Shontayne Hape will return to the Bath Rugby starting XV for tomorrow's derby date with Bristol at The Rec (2.15pm).

The rugby league convert plays at inside centre with Alex Crockett taking the No 13 shirt and the captaincy after being spared a ban for his sending off against Gloucester last Saturday.

Hape takes the place of Eliota Fuimaono-Sapolu, who drops out of the Bath 22 altogether, while Scott Bemand starts instead of Michael Claassens at scrum-half in an otherwise unchanged Bath back division. Claassens was substituted two minutes into a pulsating game at Kingsholm after being involved in a clash of heads.

Joe Maddock again gets the nod ahead of Nick Abendanon at full-back and will make his 100th appearance for Bath tomorrow.

Rob Hawkins, who scored two tries in the 36-27 defeat, retains his place at hooker with Pieter Dixon still sidelined by a knee injury and Lee Mears on England duty.

There are just two changes to the pack, with Stuart Hooper replacing Justin Harrison in the second row and Jonny Faamatuainu taking over from Daniel Browne in the No 8 jersey.

City of Bath college student Mark Lilley is again among the replacements as back up for Hawkins, while Mike Baxter provides the cover at scrum-half.

Bath will be looking to complete a Guinness Premiership double over a Bristol side rooted to the foot of the table, having triumphed 33-20 at the Memorial Stadium on the opening day of the season.

Injuries have forced new Bristol head coach Paul Hull to make several changes to the side that ran Harlequins close in a 17-14 defeat last Saturday.

Fly-half Adrian Jarvis has a knee injury, so Ed Barnes steps up from the bench to start at the club where he began his career.

Wing David Lemi has been struggling with a sore neck and shoulder and is rested as a precaution. Nathan Brew takes over his place.

Former Walcot player Lee Robinson lines up on the opposite flank, while ex-Bath flanker Joe El-Abd skippers the side.

Hull said: "Everyone looks forward to the Bristol-Bath derbies and it's one that the supporters look out for on the fixture lists when they're published at the start of the year.

"But we have to treat it as just another Guinness Premiership match. We're trying to build, week on week, on the past couple of performances so we're focussing on that.

"Bath will be favourites, they're playing good rugby at the top end of the table. But all we can do is focus on our performance. We've trained hard, done our analysis on Bath and hope it will be a good, interesting game.

"If we're in with a shout as the game progresses then that will be great."

Bath Rugby: 15 Joe Maddock, 14 Andrew Higgins, 13 Alex Crockett (capt), 12 Shontayne Hape, 11 Matt Banahan, 10 Butch James, 9 Scott Bemand, 1 David Barnes, 2 Rob Hawkins, 3 Duncan Bell, 4 Stuart Hooper, 5 Peter Short, 6 Andy Beattie, 7 James Scaysbrook, 8 Jonny Faamatuainu.

Replacements: 16 Mark Lilley, 17 Paulica Ion, 18 Justin Harrison, 19 Daniel Browne, 20 Mike Baxter, 21 Shaun Berne, 22 Nick Abendanon.

Bristol Rugby: 15 Tom Arscott; 14 Lee Robinson, 13 Neil Brew, 12 Luke Eves, 11 Nathan Brew; 10 Ed Barnes, 9 Shaun Perry; 1 Mark Irish, 2 David Blaney, 3 Darren Crompton; 4 Roy Winters, 5 Nathan Budgett; 6 Redford Pennycook, 7 Joe El Abd (capt), 8 Dan Ward-Smith

Replacements: 16 Mark Regan, 17 Wayne Thompson, 18 Dave Attwood, 19 Alfie To'oala, 20 Haydn Thomas, 21 Chris Ashwin, 22 Luke Arscott.