Leinster coach Matt O'Connor can chose from a largely healthy squad this week with the main omission being Australian second row Kane Douglas.
O’Connor added that the Irish players coming into the squad have brought in energy on the back of their Six Nations Championship win.
“The test boys came back into the environment and trained well and given us a very positive vibe this week,” said O’Connor at the Leinster training base in UCD. “Kane (Douglas) won’t play no, he is still struggling with that hamstring/back issue. The rest of them are alright and trained well.
“The lads have come back in a very positive mental state because of the success they had with Ireland. So the squad are physically in a very good place.”
O’Connor emphasised that Leinster must be wary of the talent Bath possess, especially in their back line. With their young England players making a return this week, Leinster are in no doubt of the threats they possess.
“They have probably got the most talented boys in the premiership,” said O’Connor. “They are building nicely. The forwards have been there for a while, very experienced. They have had dominance in a lot of their premiership games up front. Hooper runs the lineout.
“They are a very good side and we have to make sure we are at out very, very best to get a result.”
With the team to be selected on Friday, O’Connor promised that a number of players will be disappointed. With the fitness issues largely resolved and the internationals back, the coach is looking for combinations as much as individual ability.
“There will be some tough decisions and disappointed guys tomorrow when the team is selected,” said O’Connor. “It’s not solely about the individuals but the combinations especially in the front row. We’ll have to roll the dice and hopefully come up with the combinations for Saturday.”
The coached added that Irish flanker Sean O’Brien is coming back fresh to the team and will add more than his yard gaining and tackling ability around the park
“Seanie (O’Brien) is a competitor and he expects the same from the bloke next to him,” said O’Connor. “It helps Jamie and takes some of the pressure off. I think his form got better and better throughout the Six Nations and to get him fresh at this stage of the season is a bonus for Leinster.
Captain Jamie Heaslip is another players who has some freshness in his legs having missed time with Ireland after sustaining a back injury against France.
“I didn’t play a lot in the Six Nations,” said Heaslip. “I had just over 200 minutes, not a whole lot. I came back fairly fresh and wanted to play last week but Matt had other ideas for me. Yeah, I’m good to go and I think everyone is in a pretty good state. We’ve been well managed.It’s going to be a hell of a day I can’t wait.”
Heaslip echoed O’Connor’s view that Bath need close attention and compared the game to when Leinster played against Harlequins in 2009.
“We’ve been at this stage a few times,” said the Leinster captain. “The flip side is that we realise it’s on the day. It’s a one off game. We are up against a very, very good English side competing at the top of the league.
“It’s similar to 2009 (Harlequins). That’s the only thing I can draw on. It’s the team that makes the least amount of mistakes that will win. They have players who can punish you and we have to take our chances when we get them.”
