JON Callard has brushed aside suggestions that Bath may rest key players from this weekend's National Cup tie with London Irish to keep them fresh for their Premiership battles ahead.

The Rec number one insists this weekend's home meeting with the Exiles is the ideal opportunity for his side to start stringing together a sustained run of form. Bath have so far failed to win two domestic matches in succession this season, although they do boast a 100 per cent winning record in the Heineken Cup.

And although the cup may be well down the list of some club's priorities, Callard sees it as a springboard for his team to improve on their poor start.

"First and foremost is for us to try and keep winning,'' the former England full-back said.

"To have any sort of half-hearted approach to the game is not conducive to the players performing.''

Last weekend's narrow league win over Gloucester eased the pressure on Callard's men, after they had slipped back into the Premiership bottom two.

He added: "We need to get moving and once we are moving, I think we will be pretty difficult to stop.''

Skipper Dan Lyle could come back into contention after a strained hamstring, and Welsh back row Nathan Thomas is also nearing a comeback after a neck injury.