"Big decisions" remain as Bath Rugby"s friendly programme ends against Ospreys

Head coach Mike Ford says there are still a handful of places in Bath Rugby’s first-choice XV up for grabs as preparations for the new Aviva Premiership season come to a head tomorrow.

Welsh outfit Ospreys visit The Rec in Bath’s final pre-season friendly of the summer (7.30pm), with the match being used to fine-tune selection for next week’s league opener at Newcastle Falcons.

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   Paul James has been working hard in the gym at Farleigh House this summer and is set to start against former club Ospreys tomorrow night PICTURE: Patrick Khachfe/ Onside Images

   
   

“There are some really big decisions,” said Ford. “There are one or two positions where we are still looking at a few things, as you would do in your last pre-season game.

“They are all playing well at lock and all three nines are playing really well.

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“I reckon we are about 90 per cent there in terms of our thought process for Newcastle. We’ve still got one or two injury doubts too but we are hoping they will clear up.”

Gavin Henson is expected to make his Bath debut against his former club having missed the previous pre-season matches with a rib problem, while another former Ospreys man, prop Paul James, will return to action following a calf injury.

“Paul should start,” said Ford. “He probably won’t play 80 minutes but he’ll get some time under his belt.

“Gavin’s back in the mix this weekend, he’ll get some game time as well, and the rest are all fighting for their spots as there are some up for grabs against Newcastle.

“The boys are desperate to play well.

“We realise that to start well in the Premiership we have to play well in this last pre-season game.

“We want to hopefully take confidence into that Newcastle game because the start in the Premiership is absolutely massive.”

"Big decisions" remain as Bath Rugby"s friendly programme ends against Ospreys