Leeds v Bath: Teams
Steve Meehan is calling for more consistency from Bath as they prepare to face Leeds on Saturday.
Last Updated: 02/01/10 2:07pm
Bath head coach Steve Meehan has called for consistency when his Bath team tackle fellow Guinness Premiership strugglers Leeds Carnegie on Saturday.
The Premiership's bottom two clubs meet at Headingley, with Leeds just three points behind their opponents.
But they are both buoyed by wins last time out - Bath brushing off west country rivals Gloucester 24-8 and Leeds toppling Newcastle 16-15.
"We are after a couple of good performances on the bounce, and we've got the first one," said Bath head coach Meehan. "We need to back that up again on Saturday.
"We know the game against Leeds is an important match - it's a massive game for us.
"The beauty of the Premiership is that it is so tight. Any side on a particular day can get up and challenge another and win.
Ford starts
"It's important for us to keep our feet on the ground, keep working, keep improving and go up there and play some positive rugby."
Bath have not won away in the league for more than three months, while Leeds are the only club not to record a Premiership home victory this term.
Leeds Carnegie have made two changes to the side that beat Newcastle Falcons for Saturday's visit of Bath.
Fly-half Joe Ford has made the starting XV in place of Ceiron Thomas, who will miss out after picking up an injury against Newcastle.
Phil Nilsen and Jason Strange will both start on the bench for a match which sees Lee Blackett and Erik Lund both make their 50th starts for the club.
Leeds: 15 Leigh Hinton, 14 Scott Armstrong, 13 Seru Rabeni, 12 Henry Paul, 11 Lee Blackett, 10 Joe Ford, 9 Andy Gomarsall; 1 Mike Macdonald, 2 Rob Rawlinson, 3 Juan Gomez, 4 Erik Lund, 5 Marco Wentzel (capt), 6 Kearnan Myall, 7 Hendre Fourie, 8 Alfie Tooala.
Replacements: 16 Phil Nilsen, 17 Gareth Hardy, 18 Tommy McGee, 19 Rhys Oakley, 20 Calum Clark, 21 Scott Mathie, 22 Jason Strange, 23 Henry Faafili.
Bath: 15 Joe Maddock,14 Michael Stephenson, 13 Matt Carraro, 12 Shontayne Hape, 11 Matt Banahan, 10 Nicky Little, 9 Michael Claassens (capt); 1 David Flatman, 2 Lee Mears, 3 David Wilson, 4 Stuart Hooper, 5 Danny Grewcock, 6 Andy Beattie, 7 Julian Salvi, 8 Luke Watson.
Replacements: 16 Pieter Dixon, 17 David Barnes, 18 Duncan Bell, 19 Peter Short, 20 Ben Skirving, 21 Scott Bemand, 22 Ryan Davis, 23 Tom Cheeseman.