DUNCAN Bell has achieved two of his dearest rugby wishes in the last fortnight and victory over Northampton Saints tomorrow (2.15pm) will take him one step nearer a third.

Wins over heavyweights Gloucester and Leicester have added a splendid gloss to a remarkable start to the Bath prop's career.

But as a local lad returned home, few Bath players know the pain felt by the club's seven-year exile from the National (Powergen) Cup final more than the 29-year-old.

Bath have not been near the Twickenham cup final since their last win in 1996.

The 10-times cup winners are bidding to reach the quarter-finals for only the second time in the past eight years.

But another sixth-round loss against the Saints will equal the all-time record for successive home defeats in the cup set by London Scottish between 1993-99 and Clifton from 1993 to date.

And Bell knows it is about time that run came to an end.

"There is a big history here,'' said the former Pontypridd man. "It's early doors and we are only looking to tomorrow's game.

"But I remember going to Twickenham on a supporters' coach to watch Bath in the John Player Cup, as it was then.

"It seemed like the club used to win it all the time.

"The support we have had in the past has been superb and it's no different now.''

With Bath having made a splendid start to the season, lying eight points clear at the top of the table and in top form, the omens have surely never been better for a sustained cup run.

And Bell admitted: "It's been fantastic. I moved away when I was 18 or 19 and to be back here now in a team that is winning is even better.

"I've never been at a club that is top of the league before and what makes it extra special is it is Bath.

"I've always wanted to play in a winning Bath team against Leicester and I've always wanted to play in a team that won at Gloucester.

"Those wins were really special.''

Bath will start tomorrow's tie as favourites but Bell claims that despite their lofty early-season standards, they have yet to hit top gear.

He added: "It's a complete turnaround from last year.

"We've not actually played fantastically well, but got through with real determination.

"I hate to think what we will do when we put some quality rugby together for 80 minutes.

"When that happens, we are really going to destroy someone not that I'm saying it will happen this week of course.''