BATH'S players and coaches are preparing to stick to a self-imposed squad ban on watching Saturday's World Cup Final.

Head coach John Connolly, whose side face Harlequins in a league clash at The Rec hours after the final, does not want his team using up valuable nervous energy by getting caught up in the excitement of the global showpiece between England and Australia in Sydney.

So the squad are preparing to impose a television blackout and will have the final videotaped to watch after the conclusion of their Zurich Premiership clash (kick-off 2.15pm).

Australian Connolly admits the players will be at their own homes at 9am (kick-off time Down Under) before joining up with the squad for their usual pre-match routine.

But he expects his players will act professionally by adhering to the blackout and making sure their minds are fully switched on to their own contest.

Queenslander Connolly said: ''We are conscious of that (the final) and we have got to be very careful how we address it.

''We don't want them (the players) getting too worked up or enthusiastic over that game.

"We have to make sure the focus is totally on our game, then we might enjoy the other one later in the evening."

Bath have a golden opportunity to take a giant step towards the end-of-season play-offs with victories over Quins on Saturday and Leicester Tigers next weekend.

Connolly added: ''It's an eight-point game. If we can get a result out of the next two games, there is every chance we will have a 12 or 13-point gap to fourth spot, which is nearly four games.

''It means if we won five out of our last 11, the team in fourth would have to win nine before they jumped you. That would give us a chance to head to Twickenham.

''We're in there with a chance, but it's really important to use the old adage of taking one game at a time. As soon as you take your eye off the performance, then you have a problem.

''You have to perform week in, week out and the end result of that is you can get to something special in May. ''We are aware of the final and there has been a bit of banter here, depending on whether you support England or Australia. But the focus has really been very much on Bath.''