A WEST COUNTRY derby between Bath and Gloucester helps get the Zurich A League underway tonight (7.30pm).

The two clubs meet at the Rec in a new league format that combines first team squad members and Under 21 players from the Zurich Premiership clubs.

The leagues are split into two conferences of six clubs (north and south), and the winners of each conference will play each other in the final.

Wales Under 21 full-back Gareth Knox will captain Bath, who feature first teamers in centre Robbie Kydd and second row Jonathan Pettemerides. Portuguese Under 21 captain Duarte Silviera starts in the front row.

Bath: Knox (capt), Hitchcock, Kydd, Whatling, Winter, Burton, Baxter, Graham, Silviera, Meddick, Pettemerides, Smith, Mills, Sprangle, Gould. Subs: Oniyide-Frampton, Johnson, Ward, Bennett, Lane, Puckering.

Gloucester (TBC): Goodridge, Pimlow, Frost, Foster, TBC, Davies, Page, Wood, Elloway, Guess, Rimmer, Hughes, Narraway, Merriman, Southern.