Wasps v Bath: Teams

Wasps captain Tom Rees will make his 100th club appearance at Twickenham when he leads his players into battle against Bath.

Moving their Guinness Premiership Round 21 fixture to the home of English rugby - Twickenham Stadium - the club have named their side for the inaugural St George's Day Game that will also raise money for Help for Heroes, with £1 per ticket sold going to the charity.

Phil Vickery will also achieve a club milestone on Saturday as he prepares to make his 50th club appearance off the bench.

Director of rugby Tony Hanks has made only three changes to the XV that secured Wasps' first win at Sixways last weekend, with Mark Van Gisbergen, Tim Payne and Joe Worsley named in the starting line-up.

Fitting

The changes see Zak Taulafo, John Hart and Ben Jacobs named amongst the replacements, along with David Lemi who returns from a calf strain.

Looking ahead to the game, Hanks said: "The St George's Day game is a very fitting one for Wasps. We have always supported English rugby and will continue to do so.

"That's reflected by the high number of English-qualified players in our team. 17 of last weekend's 23-man squad at Worcester were English-qualified and the same number is again fielded at Twickenham.

"The great thing though is that the non-English players including the likes of Serge Betsen, Ben Jacobs, Steve Kefu, Dan Leo, David Lemi, Zak Taulafo have also really bought into that club ethos and this game.

"We come into the game on the back of some good form with recent wins over London Irish, Gloucester and a first ever away win at Worcester. We know Bath have been in good form recently and that we will have to play well for the full eighty minutes to get the result we need.

"For us, it's effectively a fourth week of knockout rugby, and the squad have really embraced the challenge that presents."

Wasps will face a Bath side on a high following a win against Northampton Saints on Tuesday night.

"There was a great buzz after the match," said head coach Steve Meehan about the game. "The mood just gets better and better.

Crucial

"Once that final whistle went the energy was magnificent. There were a lot of smiles and slaps on the back. The guys are so intent on being as good as they possibly can, so there is an enormous amount of spirit and passion."

The match will not only mark St George's Day, but also a crucial moment in Bath's Guinness Premiership campaign.

"It's a game that we have to win if we want to keep our hopes alive," admitted Meehan. "We are all aware of it and the guys who start the match will know what responsibilities they have got.

"But, it's a great occasion and one that will certainly get the blood coursing through the veins - of that there is no doubt."

Danny Grewcock will be making his 200th appearance in the blue, black and white.

Wasps: 15 Mark Van Gisbergen, 14 Paul Sackey, 13 Dom Waldouck, 12 Steve Kefu, 11 Tom Varndell, 10 Danny Cipriani, 9 Joe Simpson, 8 Dan Ward-Smith, 7 Tom Rees (capt), 6 Joe Worsley, 5 George Skivington, 4 Simon Shaw, 3 Ben Broster, 2 Rob Webber, 1 Tim Payne.
Replacements: 16 Tom Lindsay, 17 Phil Vickery, 18 Zak Taulafo, 19 John Hart, 20 Serge Betsen, 21 David Lemi, 22 Dave Walder, 23 Ben Jacobs.

Bath: 15 Nick Abendanon, 14 Joe Maddock, 13 Matt Carraro, 12 Olly Barkley, 11 Matt Banahan, 10 Butch James, 9 Michael Claassens (capt), 8 Luke Watson, 7 Julian Salvi, 6 Andy Beattie, 5 Danny Grewcock, 4 Stuart Hooper, 3 Duncan Bell, 2 Lee Mears, 1 David Barnes.
Replacements: 16 Pieter Dixon, 17 Nathan Catt, 18 David Wilson, 19 Scott Hobson, 20 Ben Skirving, 21 Scott Bemand, 22 Shontayne Hape, 23 Jack Cuthbert.