Zurich Premiership strugglers Bath will begin life without Mike Catt tomorrow, with coach Jon Callard admitting: "These things are sent to try us."

England star Catt has been ruled out until the summer because of a shoulder tendon problem which requires surgery.

It leaves Callard minus his chief playmaker for Bath's remaining nine league games when they bid to salvage something from the wreckage of a hugely disappointing campaign.

Bath, the 1998 European champions, have little chance of qualifying for next season's Heineken Cup through the Premiership - so their only realistic hope is via end-of-term league play-offs.

The Premiership's top eight will contest that prize, culminating in a June 8 Twickenham final; yet Bath are likely to face a difficult quarter-final away tie even if they reach the play-offs.

With 56 times-capped Catt sidelined, Callard is likely to hand youngster Olly Barkley the number 10 role in a new half-back partnership alongside loan signing Kevin Dalzell against third-placed Sale at Heywood Road tomorrow.

"Losing Mike is a big blow for Bath and England. But in the long term we had to make the right decision," said Callard.

"Mike's had an injury problem, and it has just got out of control. These things are sent to try us, but there is no point moaning about it.

"Mike is not a piece of meat. He has many years as a rugby player left in him, and we have to make sure that we get those years out of him."

Sale, meanwhile, have back-row problems - with Australian flanker Stu Pinkerton (ankle) joining Pete Anglesea (shoulder) and Apollo Perelini (broken thumb) on the sidelines.

Phil Davies, Chris Jones and Richard Wilks are included as options in a 22-man squad, with two of them set for roles alongside England cap Alex Sanderson.

"These things happen, and we have to cope. It's as simple as that," said Sale coach Jim Mallinder.

"The missing players are very experienced, but our young players are just raring to go."

England full-back Jason Robinson could again find himself in the centre, from where he produced a try-scoring display in the 20-10 triumph at Northampton a fortnight ago.

Matt Dawson will make his Northampton comeback after seven weeks on the sidelines in tomorrow's Premiership clash against Leicester at Welford Road.

The England and Lions scrum-half has been out because of an ankle injury suffered during Northampton's Heineken Cup defeat away to Glasgow on January 4.

But Dawson has been passed fit for this weekend's trip to the league leaders, who are currently 17 points clear of second-placed Gloucester.

Dawson is among five changes in the Saints line-up following their home Premiership defeat against Sale.

Dawson's former England half-back partner Paul Grayson also returns - together with fit-again Scotland flanker Budge Pountney who has been nursing an abdominal injury.

Elsewhere, John Phillips takes over from France international Olivier Brouzet in the second row - and England Under-21s captain Mark Soden is replaced at number eight by Grant Seely.

Full-back Nick Beal lines up in Saints first-team colours for the 200th time. But a Leicester side even minus knee injury victims Graham Rowntree and Geordan Murphy should register a 13th win from 15 league starts this term in pursuit of a fourth successive Premiership crown.

Prop Rowntree has not given up hope of making England's potential Lloyds TSB Six Nations title decider against France tomorrow week, but Irish ace Murphy is unlikely to feature in the tournament again this season.

He ruptured knee ligaments during Ireland's 45-11 thumping by England last Saturday and admitted: "Unless I make a miraculous recovery then I am out for the Six Nations. I am hoping to be back for the Heineken Cup semi-final against Llanelli in April."

With Murphy and fellow wing/full-back Tim Stimpson absent, Tigers boss Dean Richards could field England A fly-half Andy Goode as his last line of defence - with Austin Healey wearing the number 10 jersey.

Philippe Saint-Andre bids farewell to Gloucester after tomorrow's game at lowly Harlequins, his three-year reign as rugby director ending after a breakdown in contract talks between him and club owner Tom Walkinshaw.

Saint-Andre has been tipped to take over the coaching reins at French club Bourgoin, while Laurent Seigne and Paul Turner will oversee Gloucester playing affairs in the short term.

Quins, reeling from a dismal sequence of league defeats, are now just three points above bottom club Leeds whom they meet at The Stoop on May 3.

Although Keith Wood (calf muscle) and lock Bill Davison (broken hand) are still unavailable, both wing Dan Luger and flanker Pat Sanderson could return from injury problems for the Gloucester clash.

Sunday's Premiership action takes improving Wasps to London Irish. Bristol host Newcastle - and Leeds visit Saracens, whose preparations this week have been assisted by Australian Tim Lane, working alongside Francois Pienaar who will depart Vicarage Road at the end of this season.