SAM Burgess could be in line for his Bath Rugby debut in Friday night’s Aviva Premiership showdown at home to Harlequins.

England rugby league international Burgess arrived at The Rec at the end of October, eight months after his cross-code move from Australian NRL side South Sydney Rabbitohs was originally announced.

The 25-year-old only started training with his new club colleagues for the first time last week after completing the final stages of his recovery following facial surgery.

But Bath are keen to get Burgess involved on a matchday as quickly as possible and head coach Mike Ford revealed it could even be as early as Quins’ trip to The Rec later this week.

“It might be a possibility,” Ford told the Wiltshire Times.

“We haven’t decided on the team for Friday yet. We will keep a close eye on him over the next few days to see where he is.

“We are just waiting for Sam to tell us when he feels ready. He had a great session today but with him we just need to take it day by day.”

Springboks international flanker Francois Louw is also back in full training after undergoing neck surgery but he is not expected to feature this weekend.

Bath will have England duo Kyle Eastmond and Semesa Rokoduguni available to face Quins following their release from the Red Rose squad this week.

However, clubmates George Ford, Anthony Watson, Dave Attwood, Rob Webber and Davey Wilson have all been retained by England head coach Stuart Lancaster in the 23 to face Australia at Twickenham on Saturday.