Fleck in for Bath start (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Fleck in for Bath start

SOUTH Africa centre Robbie Fleck will start his first match for Bath since November tomorrow.

Fleck, who broke his ankle in the 20-14 defeat of Gloucester, is back for the Premiership trip to Northampton (2pm).

The Springbok ace came off the bench in last week's Parker Pen Challenge Cup semi-final first leg meeting against AS Montferrand and replaces Andrew Higgins in midfield.

Club captain Danny Grewcock is fit again after a back injury and sits on the bench.

Australian Chris Malone, who is close to signing a new Rec deal, returns in place of the rested Olly Barkley. England stars Mike Catt, Mike Tindall and Iain Balshaw are all still injured.

Meanwhile, Bath are likely to confirm two new signings in the near future, following the announcement of the summer losses of Iain Balshaw to Leeds and scrum-half Ross Blake to Bristol.

Sale scrum-half Nick Walshe, who plays against Newcasle in today's Powergen Cup Final, and Narbonne's ex-Leicester back row Peter Short are the men heading for the Rec.

Short's recruitment should help compensate for the loss of Scott Gray, who is a target for Edinburgh and injury-jinxed Adam Vander, who may contemplate retirement.

Head coach John Connolly has revealed that the Zurich Premiership salary cap was a factor behind high-earning Balshaw's departure.

"We would loved to have kept Balsh, he was important to us,'' said Connolly.

"But financially, we want a squad of 33 players including three half-backs, three hookers and five props. You have to fit those 33 players into the salary cap.

"The downside of being successful at times is that players earn more money and demand more money.

"Another issue is players playing for England. We support our English players, but next year you have got the Six Nations and the November Tests, so for 30 per cent of your season you are without the players.''

Bath: Perry; Crockett, Fleck, Maggs, Human; Malone, Wood; Flatman, Humphreys (capt), Bell; Borthwick, Fidler; Beattie, Lipman, Feaunati. Subs: Martens, Mears, Stevens, Barkley, Knox, Scaysbrook, Grewcock, Higgins.