PROP Anthony Perenise admits the return of smiles on Bath faces has been a welcome sight ahead of Sunday’s trip to Aviva Premiership champions Saracens (3pm).

The Samoan international tighthead scored the opening try in the 30-3 New Year’s Day demolition of London Irish – Bath’s first league win since October and first in any competition for five matches.

Saracens present an immediate examination of the Rec squad’s New Year revival but Perenise, 29, hopes that his team have put an awful mid-season slump behind them as they look to reignite their campaign.

“We went into the (Irish) game thinking we had to throw everything into it, including the sink,’’ he said.

“Before the game we were all sat in the team room with Francois Louw (the captain), who said a few words and it sunk in to a lot of players that we’d lost so many games.

“Coming back into the changing room afterwards there were a lot of smiles on faces.

“We could still hear the crowd cheering and it was a relief to win, especially for them because they have still been coming week in week out.

“It’s all been positive energy this week and it feels like we’ve turned a corner.’’ Sunday will be Perenise’s first encounter with Saracens, but the Bath man has few doubts about what it will take to topple the champions at Vicarage Road.

Gloucester pointed the way by drawing 15-15 in Watford last week.

However Perenise added: “They’re last year’s winners so it’s going to take a top performance from us.

“We’re going to need a lot of self-belief and the right attitude from all of the 23 players in the squad to get it done.’’

BATH players past and present have launched an appeal on behalf of the Bath Rugby Foundation to raise £50,000 to increase its work with local children in during 2012.

Prop David Flatman, former lock and now Academy director Danny Grewcock and ex-Bath full-back Matt Perry pledged to support the Foundation, which works with children of all backgrounds to improve and develop life skills and education using sports-related activities.

Every £5 donated to the Foundation allows it to work with one child.

See justgiving.com/brf or by text BATH12 plus the amount to 70070 to donate .

Businesses interested in sponsoring the Foundation or funding a programme should contact Foundation manager Jimmy Deane on 01225 325200.