Bath have been dealt a major injury blow with Finn Russell ruled out of their Gallagher Prem semi-final clash with Exeter Chiefs.
Russell missed the final two rounds of the regular season with a tight calf, but director of rugby Johann van Graan had expressed hope that the fly half would be available for the play-off encounter at the Rec.
The Scotland playmaker is not sufficiently fit to feature, though, with Argentina international Santiago Carreras instead stationed at No 10.
England international Guy Pepper is also unavailable in a blow to Bath’s impressive back row stocks. Tom Dunn and Quinn Roux return to the tight five from suspension with Van Graan favouring his usual six forwards to two backs bench split.
Exeter, meanwhile, are without Ethan Roots with the back rower progressing through return to play protocols after suffering a head injury last weekend against Saracens.
Greg Fisilau is a welcome returnee in his place, but there is no Immanuel Feyi-Waboso after the wing underwent a recent facial surgery.
The winner of the clash at the Rec will take on either Northampton or Leicester in next week’s final at Twickenham’s Allianz Stadium. The East Midlands rivals meet in the first semi-final on Friday night.
Bath XV to face Exeter Chiefs: 1 Beno Obano, 2 Tom Dunn, 3 Thomas du Toit; 4 Quinn Roux, 5 Charlie Ewels; 6 Josh Bayliss, 7 Sam Underhill, 8 Alfie Barbeary; 9 Ben Spencer (c), 10 Santi Carreras; 11 Henry Arundell, 12 Max Ojomoh, 13 Ollie Lawrence, 14 Joe Cokanasiga; 15 Tom de Glanville.
Replacements: 16 Kepueli Tuipulotu, 17 Francois van Wyk, 18 Vilikesa Sela, 19 Ross Molony, 20 Ted Hil; 21 Bernard van der Linde, 22 Cameron Redpath; 23 Miles Reid.
Exeter XV: 1 Scott Sio, 2 Max Norey, 3 Josh Iosefa-Scott; 4 Dafydd Jenkins (capt.), 5 Andrea Zambonin; 6 Tom Hooper, 7 Christ Tshiunza, 8 Greg Fisilau; 9 Stephen Varney, 10 Harvey Skinner; 11 Campbell Ridl, 12 Len Ikitau, 13 Henry Slade, 14 Paul Brown-Bampoe; 15 Olly Woodburn.
Replacements: 16 Joseph Dweba, 17 Ethan Burger, 18 Bachuki Tchumbadze, 19 Rusi Tuima, 20 Ross Vintcent; 21 Tom Cairns, 22 Zack Wimbush, 23 Ben Hammersley.
