Perry primed for Bath comeback
The procedure, required to rectify a problem which first surfaced during the 2001 Lions tour to Australia, freed a trapped nerve that had become embedded in scar tissue and muscle.
Perry has since played two matches for Bath's second string and successfully negotiated both, allowing coach John Connolly to turn to the 27-year-old when Mike Catt failed a fitness test yesterday morning.
Elsewhere, skipper Danny Grewcock is still nursing his back injury Jonathan Humphreys is installed as captain while Simon Danielli is out with an ankle problem, so Wylie Human takes his place on the wing. Montferrand have only an outside chance of making the French championship play-offs, but Connolly still believes they have the firepower to cause an upset in the first leg at the Recreation Ground.
"The game should be a real showcase of talent. Forget their league position Montferrand are a star-studded side capable of beating the best around and we will be treating them with a great deal of respect," said the Australian. "Any side that can field the likes of Olivier Magne, Oliver Azam, Aurelien Rougerie and Gerald Merceron has to be dangerous and I believe that we're going to see a great contest." Montferrand coach Alain Hyardet is looking forward to the opportunity to put domestic worries behind him as his side chase a place among the big boys for next season.
"We will forget about all our championship form this week and throw ourselves totally into the Parker Pen Challenge Cup it is tremendous that the winner will get a place in the Heineken Cup next season," he said.
"Losing at Colomiers on Saturday was a big blow to our play-off hopes so now it is even more important to play well in Parker Pen Challenge Cup. But we do not look at it as extra pressure because we have performed very well against English teams in the competition and we will be looking to do the same against Bath."
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