Danielli has faith in Bath

Simon Danielli is backing Bath to wipe out a five-point deficit and remain on course for a domestic and European double when they take on Beziers tomorrow.

The Zurich Premiership leaders lost their Parker Pen Challenge Cup quarter-final first leg tie 24-19 in France last weekend.

But home advantage at the Recreation Ground means that Bath are favoured to keep their impressive season firmly on track.

“We can definitely make up the five-point deficit, and we are determined to do that,” said Scotland World Cup wing Danielli.

“Beziers have a strong scrum and are also very good in the ruck and maul areas – they really pile in the numbers at the ruck.

“However, they play a fairly narrow game, and that is something we can work on.

“But we have to work on our continuity, retaining possession and execution if we are to go through to the semi-finals.

“While the forwards played well over in France, we let ourselves down in the backs, and we must sharpen up in all areas.”

The tournament winner gains automatic qualification to next season’s Heineken Cup competition, and Bath will not want any repeat of a dire first-half showing in Beziers.

“We know that we were poor last Saturday, and we are desperate to erase the memory of what was the poorest 40 minutes of rugby that we have played this season. We are ready to fight back,” said Bath skipper Danny Grewcock.

“This is an important competition for us, and we want to get to the final and win it – it is as simple as that.”

Connacht expect a big crowd for their second leg clash against Narbonne in Galway tomorrow.

The Irish province are nine points up from the first leg, but captain Tim Allnutt warned: “Qualification for the semi-finals is certainly not a formality.

“Last year, we were 15 points down after our first leg game in round two at Narbonne, but we managed to overhaul them by a single point with a 23-7 victory.

“On that occasion, we felt that we had nothing to lose in the home leg, and I am sure Narbonne will be travelling with the same mentality.”

England star Richard Hill is set to make his comeback in Saracens’ second leg game against Vicarage Road visitors Montferrand on Sunday.

Hill has been sidelined since suffering a broken nose during England’s World Cup celebration match against the New Zealand Barbarians just before Christmas.

He subsequently underwent surgery, but is now ready to return, and will be named in Saracens’ starting XV by coach Rod Kafer.

“Richard has come through training well this week,” said Kafer.

“And considering he has been training hard since his operation, only avoiding contact work, there are no problems with his fitness levels.”

Hill’s return is also good news for England head coach Sir Clive Woodward, with the world champions’ opening RBS 6 Nations Championship clash against Italy in Rome just over two weeks away.

Saracens face a tough task, having lost the first leg 26-10, but Harlequins should encounter few problems progressing when they take a 33-point advantage to Brive on Sunday.