JOHN Connolly claims the fans have yet to see the best of table-topping Bath this season as he welcomes back his senior players following the conclusion of the Six Nations Championship.

The Australian head coach reckons his side can still hit new heights as the season builds to an exciting crescendo, with possible Zurich Premiership and Parker Pen Challenge Cup final dates to come.

Except long-term injury victims Matt Perry, Robbie Fleck, Adam Vander, Lee Best and Brendon Daniel, Connolly should have all his options available for tomorrow's home league clash with Sale Sharks (2.15pm), although there will be late checks on skipper Danny Grewcock (back) and centre Mike Tindall (ankle), who both picked up knocks in England's Six Nations defeat in France last Saturday and were being assessed today.

"I think our best rugby is still ahead of us. I don't think we have played as well as can yet,'' said the Queenslander.

"We have taken one game at a time, although against London Irish here last week, we got away with it and had a bit of luck.''

England's Grewcock, Tindall, Olly Barkley, Steve Borthwick, Mike Catt, plus Ireland's Kevin Maggs and Scotland's Simon Danielli all come back into contention although Connolly admits that will cause headaches.

"The difficult part of any coach's job is leaving players out who have done a very good job,'' he said.

"People like Chris Malone and Spencer Davey, who have done very well in the last two weeks, could find themselves on the bench or sidelines this week.

"That's the difficult thing. To have a top squad, you need 30 top players, so you have 15 players who are happy with the coach and 15 who are not.''

Connolly added: "Once you are an international player, it's very hard to come back to the club side.

"The danger is that, after the experience of matches like the Stade de France last week, you don't get your head around club players and games.

"Many of the players have trouble adapting when you come down from that level and that's a challenge for those players.

"I hope they can rise to it. Whatever we do this week, we will improve, with getting the players back.''

The Sharks are in form, having reached the Powergen Cup final and thrashed Gloucester 38-20 last Friday.

They will also have England ace Jason Robinson back, but Connolly said: "It's hard to gauge whether Sale were great or Gloucester were poor.

"Gloucester had field position, but they turned over a lot of possession and you can't afford to do that against a side like Sale.

"Having Robinson back will be a plus for them.''

Bath also have an ace up their sleeve though, with playmaker Catt available again.

"We're happy to have him back,'' admitted Connolly. "He can win you a match and is a unique player.''

BATH'S Paul Sampson has been called into England's Sevens squad for IRB World Sevens Series which resumes in Singapore this weekend.