Many people in Bath, I am sure, would dearly love to see Austin Healey eat his words.

For that matter, I am sure there are people in Leicester who would, on occasion, be keen to see the former Tiger do that too.

When I spoke to the former England back turned ESPN analyst, pictured, ahead of the start of the season, he was pretty downbeat about Bath's chances.

"A lot of people are talking Bath up but I think it will be another tough year for them," he said.

"I can see them having a difficult time, at least at the start of the season while Olly Barkley is injured and their big signings are away.

"I think they will finish sixth."

Quite rightly, Healey pointed out that Bath lack depth in the backs. Should a couple of injuries strike during the World Cup period, then director of rugby Sir Ian McGeechan could be required to ask an awful lot of some inexperienced players.

That point was fair enough and I suspect few Bath fans would disagree that their side is a little light in the backs.

But that's life for Premiership teams at the moment, all of whom have been affected to a greater or lesser extent by World Cup absentees.

Bath's problems are compounded by the long-term injury to playmaker Barkley, and the late arrival of Kyle Eastmond, who has Super Rugby commitments to fulfil before he can move to The Rec.

The first suggestion that Healey may be forced to eat his words, however, was provided up on Tyneside on Saturday.

Against Newcastle, Bath had in spades that most precious of rugby compounds – brains and brawn.

There were brains in the way the pack varied their set-piece play, while the vim with which the entire side defended showed no lack of brawn. There was muscle too in the way Bath mauled and all the indications are that the driven maul could be a key weapon in Bath's arsenal this season.

But that was Newcastle. This weekend it's Saracens. If Healey is going to be consuming his consonants, then it's such home games that Bath are going to have to win.

Elsewhere on these pages, Bath hooker Pieter Dixon bravely says that home games for his side should be a "guaranteed win". That is a grand aim but if the much-discussed objective of being a tougher proposition at The Rec is to mean anything, then Bath must win their first home game of the season – or at least go down screaming in an absolute humdinger.

Last year's defeat to Sarries at The Rec was a poor loss for Bath but I traditionally enjoy the Fez heads' visits. There have been some great battles.

Those who were in the crowd will not have forgotten the final match of the regular season in April 2009, when Justin Harrison and Steve Borthwick spent the entire afternoon getting under the other's skin.

There was a steeliness to Bath's play that day and they won. More of the same will be needed on Saturday if the result is to be repeated – and Healey silenced.