FIRST-TEAM coach Toby Booth is well aware that Bath face a crucial fortnight in their quest for continental honours this season.

Bath face back-to-back European Challenge Cup fixtures against Cardiff Blues, starting away at Cardiff Arms Park on Saturday, with both teams having claimed two wins from two in Pool Four so far.

Cardiff’s form has hit the skids domestically, though, and they have won just once in their last six Pro 12 matches, with coach Danny Wilson branding the performance in a 35-22 loss at home to Ulster this weekend as ‘unacceptable’.

Booth says Bath will make the short trip across the Severn Bridge expecting to be on the receiving end of a big response from the Blues and hopes the Rec side can stand up to that in order to take a big step towards the knockout stages.

“When we go down there on Saturday we know we are in for a very tough encounter and a bit of a backlash because, if the press is to be believed, they are smarting from their result at the weekend,” said Booth.

“If we get it right there and then at home again the following week, it puts us in a very good position for the rest of the competition.

“We have our England players back but we haven’t decided if we will put them straight back in yet. We will take an individual approach on each player and we will give the right amount of rest that they need both mentally and physically.

“With the fixtures going Saturday to Thursday, we will have to take extra care as it’s more than likely we won’t be able to go with the same squad twice.”

Wales international Taulupe Faletau continued his injury comeback in Bath’s 14-11 win over Aviva Premiership leaders Saracens last Saturday.

Booth lauded the number eight’s performance even though it was curtailed early because of concussion protocols after he took an accidental finger to the eye.

“If you want to know what a world-class player looks like, just look at the first 20 minutes because he was fantastic,” said Booth.

“We are not sure if he will be available at the weekend but if he’s not, he won’t be out for very long.”

The weekend win moves third-placed Bath within three points of Sarries at the summit and Booth is keen to keep that momentum going over a busy winter.

“You want to test yourselves against the benchmark and they certainly are that, so it was a very good result,” said Booth.

“We know they will be there or thereabouts come the end of the season, so if you can stay as close to them as possible, then hopefully that bodes well.

“We know in that period after the Six Nations until the end of the season, things tend not to change too much, so it’s about getting yourself into a position up to that point.

“We have some massive fixtures coming up and December is going to be a very tough month for us.”