JON Callard may be the most relieved man in British rugby come Sunday night.

When the final whistle goes on Wales's clash against Australia in Cardiff, it should herald the end of the Bath coach's autumn nightmare.

After two months in which the international Test programme has stripped his Rec squad virtually to the bare bones, Callard will finally be able to prepare for a taxing Christmas schedule with a full compliment of players at his disposal.

Before that however, Bath must cope without their finest as second-placed Newcastle Falcons arrive at the Rec on Sunday (2.15pm).

As in recent weeks, Callard is unlikely to be able to shape his starting line-up until Saturday night.

Definitely missing will be Mike Catt and Danny Grewcock both England starters against South Africa on Saturday as well as Gavin Thomas who is among Wales's substitutes for the Wallabies clash.

And neither is Bath's coach getting his hopes up about the availability of centre Mike Tindall and Mark Regan, who are both on the England bench.

"On the evidence of their performances against Romania last weekend, there is a good chance they will both be involved against South Afri-ca," he said. "We will wait and see what happens and maybe they will be able to come and sit on the bench for us."

If both are unavailable, Iain Balshaw looks likely to continue his duties in the centre alongside Kevin Maggs, who has returned from duty with Ireland.

Matt Perry and Steve Borthwick are also free to play, having been omitted from England's plans.

Meanwhile, both of Bath's first-choice scrum-halves, Andy Williams and Gareth Cooper, will be with Wales A's party to take on Uruguay in Cardiff on Saturday. But both will be back in the Bath camp for Sunday's league clash.

Callard added: "Whichever one plays for Wales A, the other one will start the game for us against Newcastle."

Rob Thirlby has also returned from sevens duty with England in South Africa.

Newcastle will be without England points machine Jonny Wilkinson but deputy Dave Walder proved more than capable when kicking all 18 points in his side's win over Gloucester last weekend.

Callard said: "It's another tough game against a team with a lot of good young players who have come through.

Bath (from): Perry, Voyce, Thirlby, Crockett, Tindall, Maggs, Cox, Balshaw, Danielli, Barkley, Cooper, Williams, Emms, Barnes, Long, Mears, Regan, Mallett, Dorsey, Gabey, Borthwick, Beattie, Scaysbrook, El Abd, Lyle, Bellinger, Barlow.