The Bristolian prop, who never played any EPCR rugby in his first spell at Bristol between 2013 and 2016, starts in the front row alongside England team-mate Kyle Sinckler and hooker Bryan Byrne, while Joe Joyce returns from injury to partner Chris Vui in the second row.

Flanker Jake Heenan leads the side in the absence of Steven Luatua, while Magnus Bradbury is set for his first competitive appearance for the club at No.8 alongside Sam Jeffries.

Harry Randall and Callum Sheedy are the half-backs, Sam Bedlow and Piers O’Conor the centres, and Charles Piutau, Rich Lane and Luke Morahan the back three.

Meanwhile, Bath have named four debutants in fly-half Piers Francis, wing Matt Gallagher, tight-head prop Aranos Coetzee and flanker Chris Cloete.

Dave Attwood returns for the club, having previously spent eight years at The Recreation Ground between 2011 and 2019, alongside Josh McNally in the second row. Beno Obano and Tom Dunn complete the front row, while flanker Josh Bayliss and No.8 Jaco Coetzee are also named.

In the backs, Tom de Glanville will make his 50th Bath appearance from full-back and is joined in the back three by Gabriel Hamer-Webb. Following a long period on the sidelines, Cameron Redpath is recalled at centre alongside Will Butt and scrum-half Ben Spencer skippers the team.

Ellis Genge, a member of the Leicester Tigers team who finished EPCR Challenge Cup runners-up in 2021, will make his hometown return for Bristol Bears on Saturday, when they host West Country rivals Bath Rugby at Ashton Gate on the opening day of the new Gallagher Premiership season.