Bristol boss Richard Hill has saluted the impact made by his opposite number Steve Meehan ahead of Saturday's Guinness Premiership west-country derby against Bath.

Hill's men beat their fierce rivals at the Recreation Ground last season - a campaign when Bristol secured Heineken Cup qualification and Bath missed out.

But Hill has described Meehan's men as "the in-form team" prior to their latest meeting.

Bath have won eight games out of 10 in all competitions this term, an impressive return that has elevated them to second in the Premiership, just one point behind Gloucester.

And Hill said: "We caught them at a slightly low ebb last season when they just weren't clicking.

"But you can see the influence Steve Meehan is having now. They have a real cutting edge this season.

"For our point of view, we seem to have broken that real stranglehold Bath had over Bristol for many, many years.

"Last year was a big turning point for us. In particular, it gave everyone at the club a huge lift to go to the Recreation Ground and win.

"It has always been a difficult place to go and win. Gloucester just can't seem to do it, for example.

"But it is not a foregone conclusion that Bristol will go there and lose, as maybe it was in the past."

Hill retains the pack that steamrollered Heineken Cup favourites Stade Francais last Sunday, while Springboks World Cup winner Butch James makes his Premiership debut for Bath.

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