The remarkable resurgence enjoyed by Bath this season could lead them to rise to the top of the Guinness Premiership if they secure a bonus-point victory at home to London Irish this afternoon. Although they lost 22-16 away to Harlequins last weekend, Gloucester, the league leaders, were also beaten, so Bath have the opportunity to replace their West Country rivals at the top of the table. With six games remaining, Bath have a game in hand on Gloucester, who are not in action this weekend, and second-placed Leicester, who play London Wasps in the semi-finals of the EDF Energy Cup this afternoon.

In need of a lift after the defeat by Harlequins, their first loss for a month, Bath have been boosted in training this week by the return of their four England forwards, all of whom will start today. Lee Mears and Matt Stevens form two thirds of the front row, while Steve Borthwick returns at lock and Michael Lipman at open-side flanker.

“Having four international-class forwards to slot back into the pack is a big bonus for us,” Steve Meehan, the Bath head coach, said. “I don't think any of our guys displayed poor form during the Six Nations. They all gave themselves a good chance of going to New Zealand with England this summer and that will drive them on for the rest of the season here at Bath. Getting them all back fit off the back of an England victory has given everyone a lift.”

After successive defeats by Gloucester and Wasps, Brian Smith, the London Irish director of rugby, believes that his side need to win five of their last six games to stand any chance of qualifying for the play-offs.

“The outcome of our last two matches has been disappointing and has been a setback to our hopes of a top-four finish,” Smith said. “We believe that we still have a chance of making the play-offs and are going to have a crack at it.”

Mike Catt returns at inside centre for Irish to face his former club, having recovered from a nose injury.

Harlequins have a much stronger chance of reaching the play-offs and they will move above Sale Sharks into fourth place if they can win away to Bristol tomorrow afternoon. Having won four of their five Premiership matches during the RBS Six Nations Championship, Harlequins have made four changes to the side that beat Bath, with Hal Luscombe recalled at outside centre in place of Ugo Monye. Luscombe will play opposite Neil Brew, who returns for Bristol after two months out with a knee injury.