Injuries to Will Spencer and Guy Thompson see Graham Kitchener and Brendon O'Connor return to the Leicester starting line-up.

Meanwhile, hooker Jake Kerr replaces Tatafu Polota-Nau.

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Replacements: Polota-Nau, Ma'afu, Heyes, Williams, Evans, White, Owen, J Olowofela.

Bath make one change to their side to face Leicester as they search for back-to-back Premiership victories.

Matt Garvey returns to the starting line-up to co-captain the side, and will join Elliott Stooke in the second row.

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Replacements: Batty, Van Rooyen, Lahiff, Ewels, Mercer, Green, Priestland, Vuna.

Image source, Getty Images

The Premiership is so congested that the winner of today's match is set to move up to fifth in the table.

Score four tries, and the victors would move level on points with fourth-placed Harlequins.

That may be motivation enough for these two sides, while Bath are aiming to build on their 24-14 win over Wasps last weekend.

Leicester ended an eight-match losing streak in all competitions - their worst run of form since 1975 - against Quins last time out.

However, the Tigers have lost their past five away matches and don't travel well to the Rec - they have only won once in their past 11 league visits to Bath.

Have your say on this afternoon's action by joining in the debate on Twitter.

What have been your Premiership highlights of 2018? Tweet using #bbcrugby and we'll share as many of them as we can throughout the afternoon.

Also, while you're at it, why not follow @bbcrugbyunion, external to keep up to date with all the latest rugby union news and match reports.

Newcastle Falcons captain Will Welch returns after three months out with an ankle injury.

He is one of six changes to the side which narrowly lost to Gloucester.

Calum Clark joins Welch in the back row, with Sami Mavinga and hooker George McGuigan coming into the front row.

Scrum-half Michael Young and winger Adam Radwan are named in the back line.

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Replacements: Cooper, Brocklebank, Wilson, Davidson, Graham, Takulua, Connon, Arscott.

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Newcastle have lost their past three matches in all tournaments since beating Northampton at Franklin’s Gardens in round nine of the Premiership.

The Falcons have tallied more league points on their travels in the Premiership this season than they have at home.

A good omen for Dean Richards' side this afternoon is that they have lost just one of their past six encounters with Bristol: 14-19 at Kingston Park in the Championship in April 2013.

Newcastle won 39-27 on their only previous visit to Ashton Gate in May 2017.

Bristol Bears make three changes for the visit of struggling Newcastle Falcons.

Winger Tom Pincus gets a first league start after a summer move from Jersey, while Jordan Crane and Dan Thomas return to back row.

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Replacements: Fenton-Wells, Woolmore, Thiede, Holmes, Smith, Uren, Sheedy, O'Conor.

Image source, Getty Images

Bristol Bears come into this afternoon's encounter with the Falcons with only one victory in the past six Premiership rounds.

That was an impressive 41-10 dismantling of Leicester at Ashton Gate on 1 December. Former Tigers prop Harry Thacker enjoyed that one as he ran in two of his side's four tries that afternoon.

Bristol’s home record in the Premiership this season is won three, lost two.

We've got every ruck, kick and maul covered for you this afternoon in the Premiership on both BBC national and local radio.

Not only can you tune in to either BBC Radio Bristol, BBC Somerset & BBC Radio Leicester from The Rec, but there's also commentary of that clash on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra should you wish to listen online or through your DAB digital radio.

Meanwhile, both BBC Radio Bristol and BBC Newcastle are wired in at Ashton Gate for that game.

And if you fancy catching up on a bit of Championship action in the meantime, there's also BBC Radio Cornwall coverage of Cornish Pirates against London Scottish available at the top of this page.

There's barely anything between the sides in the Premiership table as they head into their respective matches this afternoon.

It's not quite the congested pack at the bottom we had a couple of rounds ago, but wins today could be huge in the context of the second half of the season.

Both Bath and Leicester could move into the top four with a big enough victory at The Rec while victories for either Bristol or Newcastle would make their start to 2019 a slightly less daunting one.

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We've had quite a collection of matches already in this round of Premiership fixtures as we reach the halfway stage of the season.

In case you've missed any of the results and how they unfolded, here's a handy reminder:

Friday:

Northampton 31-28 Exeter

Saturday:

Saracens 25-17 Worcester

Gloucester 15-30 Sale

Harlequins 20-13 Wasps

It's been a compelling year of Premiership action, with Saracens reclaiming the trophy in May.

But Exeter, losers in the showpiece Twickenham final, have a one-point lead from Sarries at the top heading into 2019.

The rest of the league is tight, with 12 points separating fourth from bottom, and there could be move movement today, with two games bringing down the curtain on 2018's action.

Bath welcome Leicester and Bristol entertain Newcastle. Stick with us and we'll guide you through all the action.

Image source, Getty Images