BATH will welcome back centre Max Clark and back rower Taulupe Faletau for tomorrow night's Aviva Premiership derby against Bristol at the Rec (7.45pm).

Faletau, who was released by Wales to train and play with his club, starts at number eight, with Guy Mercer on the openside and Tom Ellis on the blindside flank.

Elliott Stooke partners Matt Garvey in the second row, with Nathan Catt and Kane Palma-Newport scrummaging down in the front row either side of Ross Batty at hooker.

Clark returns to the midfield at outside centre, Matt Banahan linking up with him at number 12.

Welsh duo Darren Allinson and Rhys Priestland, who is named as co-captain , continue their half-back partnership, whilst Darren Atkins and Jack Wilson are named on the wings.

Tom Homer completes the line-up from full-back.

From the bench, Tom Dunn could make his 50th appearance and Australian centre, Ben Tapuai, who arrived at the club this week, could make his debut.

Director of rugby Todd Blackadder said: “We can’t wait to get out there on Friday, and it’s great to have Taulupe Faletau and Max Clark back amongst the mix.

"We’ve actually had a bit of a selection headache this week, which was an interesting change for us.

"We’ve got to pick ourselves back up after the disappointing start to the Anglo-Welsh Cup campaign and get back on the horse for this next block of crucial Aviva Premiership games.

"We know how much this game means to our supporters, and we’re going to do all we can to make sure they leave the Rec with a smile on their face tomorrow night.

“Henry Thomas is unavailable due to the knee injury he picked up against Scarlets. It seemed like a pretty innocuous bang at the time, but it looks like he’ll be out for the rest of the season.

"We’re really disappointed for him - he’d been playing some great rugby, but our medical team will do the best job in looking after him and getting him back on the pitch when he’s ready.”

Bath: 15. Tom Homer, 14. Darren Atkins, 13. Max Clark, 12. Matt Banahan, 11. Jack Wilson, 10. Rhys Priestland (co-captain), 9. Darren Allinson, 1. Nathan Catt, 2. Ross Batty, 3. Kane Palma-Newport, 4. Elliott Stooke, 5. Matt Garvey (co-captain), 6. Tom Ellis, 7. Guy Mercer, 8. Taulupe Faletau.

Replacements: 16. Tom Dunn 17. Beno Obano 18. Max Lahiff 19. Paul Grant 20. Zach Mercer 21. Will Homer 22. Adam Hastings 23. Ben Tapuai