BATH Rugby have been forced into making one change to the side that lost to Leicester Tigers at Twickenham ahead of their trip to Saracens on Sunday (3pm).

Tom Ellis will replace the injured Matt Garvey at blindside flanker as Charlie Ewels is handed the captain’s armband.

Sunday’s game is a must win for Bath if they are to keep any slim hopes of reaching the playoffs alive, though they must rely on favourable results elsewhere at the same time.

Twickenham try-scorer Tom Dunn will be joined by Beno Obano and Shaun Knight in an unchanged front row.

Ewels and Elliott Stooke make up a physical second row with Ellis joined in the back row by Francois Louw and Taulue Faletau.

Kahn Fotuali’i and Rhys Priestland continue their partnership in the half-back combination, with Aled Brew and Matt Banahan lining up on the wings.

Ben Tapuai lines up alongside Jonathan Joseph in the midfield, and James Wilson completes the starting XV at fullback.

Bath: James Wilson, Matt Banahan, Jonathan Joseph, Ben Tapuai, Aled Brew, Rhys Priestland, Kahn Fotuali’I, Beno Obano, Tom Dunn, Shaun Knight, Charlie Ewels (c), Elliott Stooke, Tom Ellis, Francois Louw, Taulupe Faletau.

Replacements: Jack Walker, Lucas Noguera, Victor Delmas, James Phillips, Paul Grant, Max Green, Freddie Burns, Tom Homer.