The scrum-half has been missing since September with a knee injury and will make his third appearance of the season. Also returning to action, Orlando Bailey is back at fly-half after a period out with a facial injury.

Niall Annett will make his first Bath start from hooker and there is a debut at full-back for former Worcester Warriors man Jamie Shillcock. Matt Gallagher switches to the wing with Will Butt completing the back three.

Jonathan Joseph is promoted from the bench to outside centre meaning Ollie Lawrence moves inside to 12.

HUBOO MATCH PREVIEW: LEICESTER TIGERS (H)

Other than Annett’s inclusion, the pack remains the same. Valeriy Morozov and D’Arcy Rae pack down at loosehead and tighthead respectively while Fergus Lee-Warner and Quinn Roux combine in the second row once again.

Try scorer last time out Ted Hill, Miles Reid and Richard de Carpentier make up the back row.

On the bench, Josh Bayliss and Cameron Redpath return from Scotland duty, and Wesley White is selected as Johann van Graan opts for a six-two split.

Bath Rugby side to play Leicester Tigers

Bath Rugby: 15 Jamie Shillcock, 14 Will Butt, 13 Jonathan Joseph, 12 Ollie Lawrence, 11 Matt Gallagher, 10 Orlando Bailey, 9 Ben Spencer ©; 1 Valeriy Morozov, 2 Niall Annett, 3 D’Arcy Rae, 4 Fergus Lee-Warner, 5 Quinn Roux, 6 Ted Hill, 7 Miles Reid, 8 Richard de Carpentier

Impact players: 16 Tom Dunn, 17 Arthur Cordwell, 18 Johannes Jonker, 19 Tom Ellis, 20 Josh Bayliss, 21 Max Green, 22 Cameron Redpath, 23 Wesley White

THE OPPOSITION

Leicester Tigers: 15 Anthony Watson, 14 Chris Ashton, 13 Harry Potter, 12 Matt Scott, 11 Nemani Nadolo, 10 Freddie Burns, 9 Richard Wigglesworth; 1 James Cronin, 2 Charlie Clare, 3 Dan Cole (vc), 4 Harry Wells, 5 Calum Green, 6 George Martin, 7 Hanro Liebenberg (c), 8 Olly Cracknell

Replacements: 16 Tom Cowan-Dickie, 17 Francois van Wyk, 18 Will Hurd, 19 Eli Snyman, 20 Sean Jansen, 21 Sam Edwards, 22 Charlie Atkinson, 23 Phil Cokanasiga

Matchday Programme

Spencer and Bailey return for Bath Rugby against Leicester Tigers

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