YOU could feel right from the start of this week that there is a derby match against Bristol coming up this weekend.

We had a hard, intensive training session on Tuesday and there was a little bit of added spice to it because of the game against our old rivals we know is coming up on Sunday.

I've played in more Bath versus Bristol games than against any other team and have had some superb old battles in the past it's a great environment to play in.

There's always a lot of build-up, whether you pick up a local paper or talk to the supporters, and this one is no exception you can't help but be aware of it.

It will be fairly hostile at the Memorial Stadium but it adds a bit more excitement and we want to put right what happened there last year when we were very disappointed to lose.

You know it's going to be a physical match, especially with ex-Bath players such as Neil McCarthy, Ben Sturnham, Adam Vander and Darren Crompton involved and Dean Ryan as their coach.

I played alongside him a few times in England representative sides and he was a great player and is a fantastic motivator.

We were happy to get the win against London Irish last week it was a win that has eluded us all too often this season but we didn't show ourselves to be in particularly fine form.

It looks like it might be a familiar story for us this week, with many of our players away on international duty.

This club-versus-country issue is something that's raging on at the moment.

Having Matt Perry and Steve Borthwick back from bench duty with England for the match against London Irish was a big boost.

It was a great effort on their behalf to have been focussed on facing the world champions Australia one day, then coming back to play Premiership rugby the next.

This week, we will be without a few more and while I can understand the England point of view in wanting the best for their players by keeping them rested, from Bath's standpoint they have put a massive amount of investment into developing English players and to lose them for an important league game against Bristol is something of a travesty.

It does slightly devalue the fixture for the supporters because people in the South West want to see the Mike Catts, Mike Tindalls and Danny Grewcocks and all the best players playing for their clubs against each other.

People come to watch Bath because of these players and they are likely to be disappointed. In the greater scheme of things, it doesn't seem right that we lose these guys.

It needs a reprogramming of the fixture list because there has to be room for the club game which is where young English talent gets the chance to develop in the first place.

Otherwise, the obvious solution for some clubs will be to look elsewhere rather than developing home-grown players.

It's a big talking point but perhaps not as big as the other selection poser among the lads this week just who is going to be Father Christmas and the elves for the forthcoming kids' Christmas party at the clubhouse!

Apparently, I'm in pole position, alongside Mark Gabey, for the role of Santa.

Must be because the suit fits and the deep voice!

But I'll get my revenge if I am chosen because I would like to think I get the first say on who will be the elves!

Meanwhile, myself and a few of the lads had a great time at the Designer Village in Swindon last week.

It was good to meet a large number of Bath supporters from the Swindon area.

It was something of an eye-opener for all of us seeing just how many Bath fans there are in the area and hearing their tales of travelling down to the Rec on match days.

It was a good afternoon out the only problem was that Bill and Ben were in the shop next door and they got a bigger crowd than us!