Bath v Bristol Bears: The closest Premiership derby in more ways than one
- Published
Bath's matches with local rivals Bristol have typically been close affairs in recent years
Just 14 miles separate the Recreation Ground from Ashton Gate, and derbies between Bath and Bristol have a track record of being just as close.
Of the 10 meetings between the two neighbours over the past five years in the Premiership, seven have been settled by fewer than seven points.
The two games last season were won by two points and last-minute scores.
"It's very intense," is Bath and England flanker Sam Underhill's assessment to BBC Radio Somerset.
"The first one I remember playing, I think it was the first one at Ashton Gate when they [Bristol] got promoted and it was one of the loudest games I've been to and one of the most intense. I think the crowd bring that intensity for sure.
"Normally in games when you have a break in play you get a minute to calm yourself down and think, whereas it feels like in these games sometimes you don't. It's just non-stop.
"They want to play an exciting brand of rugby which is a creative, attacking game so it's a massive, massive challenge - but that's kind of what you want."
After taking on the role of Bath's head of rugby last season, and falling to 31-29 and 15-13 defeats at the hands of the Bears, Johann van Graan is keen to start turning his record against Bristol around on Friday.
"I haven't enjoyed them that much because we literally lost with the last kick of the game the last two games," he said.
"The first thing I will say about Bristol is they are a quality outfit, good coaching team, they've got some individuals in that coaching group I've come a long way with and respect a lot.
"They've got some fascinating players - they're just another good team in this Premiership and it will be a tight battle."
'All our stats go up against Bath'
Bath come into the game as a club on the up this season, and off the back of a convincing 45-27 victory over Gloucester in another Friday night West Country derby last week.
They sit third in the table after five Premiership rounds, in what is Van Graan's second season in charge and with a line-up bolstered by world-class talent.
That being said, the team remain coy about their ambitions this campaign.
"We've got a team that are improving, we've got a long way to go. It's only the middle of November now and we've got a long way to go in this Premiership," Van Graan said.
Pat Lam (left) and Johann van Graan met as Premiership coaches for the first time last season
By contrast, Bristol come into the game off the back of three consecutive defeats - by Harlequins, Exeter and most recently Sale - and have dropped to seventh, seven points behind Bath.
However, the Bears do have the edge of winning eight of the past 10 meetings between the clubs.
"We know what's required to win at the Rec, we've done it a few times," director of rugby Pat Lam told BBC Radio Bristol.
"I think when we look at all our stats in Bath games, everything goes up. We know how to win there and I know it's cliche - the big picture - but it's about everyone just doing their bit.
"Whenever we've played there as a team and got the things right we win."
Bristol have prop Ellis Genge available for the first time this season following his return to the squad from England duty at the World Cup, while full-back Max Malins is being monitored following the illness that ruled him out of the Sale match.
Lam is under no illusions of how significant psychologically the result is for the Bears. It will either be a confidence-boosting victory away to a local rival or a fourth loss in a row.
"It's massive. Even last year, it wasn't up to the standard we wanted but one of the highlights was that we did the double. That's huge," Lam added.
"But ultimately, in the context of where we are and if we put all that aside and go 'it's us against Bath', it's a derby game.
"It's a game of rugby - one that we want to win, one that they want to win, and it's always exciting."