Relegation-threatened Bath have suffered a major blow with Iain Balshaw ruled out of their final two games of the Zurich Premiership season.

The fly-half twisted an ankle in training and damaged ligaments that will take between six and eight weeks to heal.

Not only will he miss today's west country derby against Gloucester at Kingsholm and the final game at home to Wasps, but England's clash with the Barbarians at Twickenham on May 26 and possibly the summer tour to Argentina.

Bath are just four and two points respectively above Leeds and Harlequins, and Balshaw's absence is the last thing they need.

Olly Barkley will move back to number 10 from centre and with Mike Tindall also set to miss out because of a knee injury, team director Michael Foley may be forced to play rookies Spencer Davey and Sam Cox in the centre.

The absence of Balshaw and Tindall follows long-term injuries to Matt Perry, Mike Catt and Kevin Maggs.

"Someone up there clearly doesn't like us to lose five international backs is unbelievable," said Tindall.

Danny Grewcock will however strap up his broken hand to play against Gloucester, who are looking to consolidate second place behind Leicester.

Gareth Cooper does not celebrate his 23rd birthday until next week but he is still on a mission to make up for lost time.

Bath's talented scrum-half has found himself playing a frustrating waiting game since arriving in the West Country from Wales four years ago.

Had Lady Luck smiled on the Bridgend product, then he might well have been a British Lion by now, and won far more than three Welsh caps gained against Japan (twice) and Italy last year.

At the start of 2001, Cooper was arguably British rugby's form number nine. But a serious ankle injury suffered in the monsoon of a rearranged Heineken Cup clash against Newport, meant three months sidelined.

Cooper has had to endure another injury-ruined campaign, spending much of it watching Bath slide towards the Premiership basement.

A foot problem meant another three months out, destroying his Six Nations Championship hopes with Wales and leaving Bath to battle on minus one of their most influential players.

Fortunately, he has regained fitness just when Bath need him most, and is now set to feature in two huge closing games against Gloucester today and Wasps on Sunday week.