Leicester head coach Richard Cockerill expects a tough match against Bath in the GP play-off semi-final.
Cockerill expects Bath to be hot in Premiership semi-final
Leicester Tigers head coach Richard Cockerill is anticipating a tough match against Bath in the Guinness Premiership play-off semi-final on May 9.
The Tigers will entertain fourth-placed Bath at the Walkers Stadium after securing top spot in the table with an 11-try rout of already-relegated Bristol on the final day of the regular season.
"Bath are a good team and it could have gone either way last time we were here," said Cockerill, referring to his side's 20-15 victory in the Heineken Cup quarter-final on April 11.
"It will be a typical Leicester-Bath game I have no doubt. But they can have a week off first which helps them.
"We have got a Heineken Cup semi-final against Cardiff first which is a massive game."
Cockerill faces some difficult selection decisions for both games. England flanker Lewis Moody came through his first game since he broke an ankle almost three months ago and former England captain Martin Corry is expected to have recovered from a knee ligament injury.
"I was pleased with today's result, we've got no injuries and we've got a few of the guys back that we haven't had for a while," Cockerill added.
"It was good to have Lewis back after 13 weeks. He got 80 minutes under his belt and did some good things.
"There was a bit of rustiness but he will be a bit less rusty next week.
"The guys that have been playing in the absence of others have been playing well so there are some tough calls to make."
Miserable season
Bristol's heavy defeat ended a miserable season in which they were bedevilled by financial problems, parted company with head coach Richard Hill and then relegated.
"We knew we would be up against it and it was probably a game too far for us," said head coach Paul Hull.
"It's disappointing that we ended up with that scoreline but it was going to go one of two ways.
"We were either going to compete and make it really close or it could have gone that way. Unfortunately it went that way.
"I'm just really pleased that we can draw under a line this season and start preparing for next season. I'm determined that we will bounce back and bounce back stronger."
The last time Bristol were relegated six years ago it took them two seasons to come back but Hull is already in the process of recruiting for next season.
"We have got a squad which we didn't have last time we went down and we can build on that squad," Hull said.
"I'm happy with where we are at the moment but obviously not happy after this game today."