Play-Off preview: Bath Rugby v Bristol Bears

The 2024/25 Play-Offs are set to get off to a flyer at The Rec on Friday night as Westcountry rivals Bath Rugby and Bristol Bears do battle.

The hosts finished the regular season 11 points clear at the summit after winning 14 of their 18 league matches, though two of their defeats came against their neighbours from up the A4.

Bristol sealed fourth spot with a 52-26 victory over Harlequins at Ashton Gate in Round 18 and are looking to end a disappointing record in The Play-Offs - they have been beaten on the three previous occasions they have reached this stage and have not yet reached a Final.

Ben Spencer captains a Bath side which includes Ted Hill, who is set to make his 50th appearance for the club.

The visitors make three changes to the side which defeated Quins, with Ellis Genge returning to the front row. James Dun and centurion Steven Luatua are also recalled to the starting XV.

Referee: Christophe Ridley

Assistant Referees: Luke Pearce & Anthony Woodthorpe

TMO: Andrew Jackson

TV: Live on TNT Sports 1 and UHD (KO 7.45pm)

TEAM NEWS

Bath Rugby: 15 Tom de Glanville, 14 Joe Cokanasiga, 13 Max Ojomoh, 12 Cameron Redpath, 11 Will Muir, 10 Finn Russell, 9 Ben Spencer (c); 1 Beno Obano, 2 Tom Dunn, 3 Will Stuart, 4 Quinn Roux, 5 Charlie Ewels, 6 Ted Hill, 7 Guy Pepper, 8 Alfie Barbeary,

Replacements: 16 Niall Annett, 17 Francois van Wyk, 18 Thomas du Toit, 19 Ross Molony, 20 Miles Reid, 21 Tom Carr-Smith, 22 Ciaran Donoghue, 23 Josh Bayliss

Bristol Bears: 15. Noah Heward, 14. Kalaveti Ravouvou, 13. Benhard Janse van Rensburg, 12. James Williams, 11. Gabriel Ibitoye, 10. AJ MacGinty, 9. Harry Randall; 1. Ellis Genge, 2. Gabriel Oghre, 3. George Kloska, 4. James Dun, 5. Joe Batley, 6. Steven Luatua, 7. Fitz Harding (c), 8. Viliame Mata

Replacements: 16. Harry Thacker, 17. Jake Woolmore, 18. Max Lahiff, 19. Pedro Rubiolo, 20. Santiago Grondona, 21. Kieran Marmion, 22. Harry Byrne, 23. Jack Bates