JONATHAN Joseph returns to the Bath midfield on Sunday as they take on Leicester Tigers at Welford Road in the Aviva Premiership.

Joseph, who missed out on last weekend’s win over Worcester Warriors, takes his place at outside centre forming a combative partnership with Matt Banahan. The back three are unchanged with Anthony Watson and Semesa Rokoduguni out wide and Tom Homer at fullback. Captain George Ford and Kahn Fotuali’i continue their threatening partnership in the halfbacks.

In the forwards, Tom Ellis and Matt Garvey both return from injury to start on the openside and blindside respectively, with Leroy Houston continuing at the base of the scrum.

Charlie Ewels switches to the engine room alongside Dave Attwood, whilst Nathan Catt also comes into the starting line-up alongside Ross Batty and Henry Thomas in the front row.

Director of rugby Todd Blackadder said: ‘’It’s great to have a few guys coming back from injury to start, and the team have prepared really well this week. We know that Leicester are going to be a huge challenge, but we’re excited by that and looking forward to the game.”

Bath: Tom Homer; Semesa Rokoduguni, Jonathan Joseph, Matt Banahan, Anthony Watson; George Ford, Kahn Fotuali’I; Nathan Catt, Ross Batty, Henry Thomas, Charlie Ewels, Dave Attwood, Matt Garvey, Tom Ellis, Leroy Houston. Reps: Tom Dunn, Beno Obano, Max Lahiff, Elliott Stooke, Zach Mercer, Will Homer, Dan Bowden, Jeff Williams.