Bath Rugby have received a significant fitness boost ahead of their Investec Champions Cup semi-final against Bordeaux Begles, with captain Ben Spencer cleared to start at scrum-half.
Spencer had been touch and go to feature as he recovers from a shoulder injury sustained in the quarter-final victory over Northampton Saints. However, the 33-year-old has been passed fit to play in his side's first last-four tie in two decades.
Bath will be without backs Joe Cokanasiga and Max Ojomoh due to injuries. Wales international Louie Hennessey partners Ollie Lawrence in the midfield, while Henry Arundell is set for a head-to-head with fellow speedster Louis Bielle-Biarrey on the wing.
Thomas du Toit, used as an impact replacement in his last six appearances, has been named to start at tighthead prop. Bath aim to exploit the absence of Bordeaux Begles captain Jefferson Poirot, who is suspended. The defending champions will also be without head coach Yannick Bru on the touchline as he serves a ban.
The winner of this clash will face Leinster or Toulon in the Champions Cup final in Bilbao on Saturday, 23 May.
Bath XV to face Bordeaux Begles
Date: Sunday, 3 May, 3pm BST
- Starting XV: 1 Beno Obano, 2 Tom Dunn, 3 Thomas du Toit; 4 Quinn Roux, 5 Charlie Ewels; 6 Josh Bayliss, 7 Guy Pepper, 8 Alfie Barbeary; 9 Ben Spencer (c), 10 Finn Russell; 11 Will Muir, 12 Ollie Lawrence, 13 Louie Hennessey, 14 Henry Arundell; 15 Santi Carreras.
- Replacements: 16 Kepu Tuipulotu, 17 Francois van Wyk, 18 Vilikesa Sela, 19 Ted Hill, 20 Sam Underhill; 21 Tom Carr-Smith, 22 Tom de Glanville; 23 Miles Reid.
