FULL-BACK Matt Perry admits he is desperate to overcome a niggling neck injury in time for Bath's sell-out west country derby against Bristol Shoguns at the Rec tomorrow (2pm).

British Lion Perry hasn't joined his teammates in any of this week's training sessions and has already been rated as a severe doubt by Bath's assistant coach Michael Foley.

A final decision on the fitness of the 24-year-old will be made either later today or tomorrow morning but Perry himself is pulling out all the stops in order to get fit as Bath try to take revenge for a 31-17 hammering at the Memorial Stadium last month.

"I took a jolt to the back of the neck and its a bit stiff, but if I can make it, I will," insisted Perry, who has been having twice-daily physio sessions.

"This is one game I particularly want to play in after losing to Bristol at their ground."

Perry was in the XV that capitulated to their second straight defeat at their M4 rivals.

And he admitted: "A few of the boys have that etched clearly in their minds and it's a big game for both the teams. The way we played at the Memorial Stadium was not a credit to the side at all.

"It was a disappointing day, especially as there is always a big rivalry that shows how important these games are."

Victory in front of the TV cameras tomorrow is a must for struggling Bath who could now be out of action for up to a month while the Heineken and Powergen cups take centre stage.