MATT Banahan admits what was already a big Twickenham date with old rivals Leicester has taken on added significance given the current Aviva Premiership outlook.

Bath’s dip in league form - three successive defeats prior to last weekend’s European Challenge Cup win over Brive - allowed the Tigers to usurp them from fourth spot in the table with the closing stages of the season looming large.

The build-up to ‘The Clash’ at the national stadium has been continuing for most of the season, but Banahan, Bath’s longest-serving player, concedes that anticipation has only been heightened by recent events.

“From the start of the season, everyone has said it’s going to be big - and it’s probably a little bit more than that now,’’ he said.

“It’s an opportunity to go to the home of English rugby, perform well and, hopefully, get back into that top four, but there is a lot of work to do.

“Hopefully, it will be a massive occasion and it’s great to know that we’ll be well supported on the day.’’ Banahan reckons last week’s European victory gave the players a timely reminder of their abilities heading into the crucial final phase of the season.

Wales international Taulupe Faletau and England wing Semesa Rokoduguni each scored two tries as the Rec men booked a place in the semi-finals by subduing Brive.

Coming off the back of their heaviest defeat for 15 years, a 53-10 drubbing at Aviva Premiership champions Saracens, as well as two prior losses to Bristol and Wasps, Bath gave themselves the ideal tonic ahead of the final four Premiership games.

“We knew that we hadn’t been playing particularly well, but the opportunities we gave ourselves (against Brive) showed what we had been doing right,’’ added Banahan, who had missed nearly four months of the season with a posterior cruciate ligament injury before returning in the loss at Saracens a fortnight ago.

“I think we tried to keep the ball in hand a bit more and gave ourselves opportunities.’’