LUKE Charteris, Guy Mercer and Rhys Priestland will all start for Bath when they take on Pau in France in the first round of the European Rugby Challenge Cup tomorrow (8.45pm local time).

It will be the first appearance of the season for club captain Mercer, who takes his place on the openside flank while Tom Ellis shifts to the blindside and Leroy Houston returns to the number eight shirt after winning his debut cap for Australia a week ago.

Welsh international Charteris partners Elliott Stooke in the second row, as Nick Auterac and Kane Palma-Newport form the front row either side of Tom Dunn at hooker.

Priestland is the only change amongst the backs, where he comes in to link-up with scrum-half Kahn Fotuali’i.

Semesa Rokoduguni and Aled Brew are on the wings, and two-time man of the Match matt Banahan combining with Jonathan Joseph in the centres. Tom Homer completes the line-up at full-back.

Director of rugby Todd Blackadder said: "We're really excited about the next couple of European games we have coming up - it's a different competition, and that gives us chance to take a fresh look at things.

“We've not made too many changes, but it's a fantastic opportunity for this guys who haven't had as much game time as some to step up and start for us.

"It's great to have the likes of Guy Mercer, Luke Charteris and Rhys Priestland back - all three are experienced players who will give us a new energy going into the game."

Bath: 15. Tom Homer, 14. Semesa Rokoduguni, 13. Jonathan Joseph, 12. Matt Banahan, 11. Aled Brew, 10. Rhys Priestland, 9. Kahn Fotuali’i, 1. Nick Auterac, 2. Tom Dunn, 3. Kane Palma-Newport, 4. Luke Charteris, 5. Elliott Stooke, 6. Tom Ellis, 7. Guy Mercer (captain), 8. Leroy Houston.

Replacements: 16. Michael van Vuuren, 17. Max Lahiff, 18. Shaun Knight, 19. Charlie Ewels, 20. Matt Garvey, 21. Chris Cook, 22. Dan Bowden, 23. Jeff Williams.