Full-back Matt Perry and lock Steve Borthwick should be free to resume their club duties with Bath this weekend after being left out of England's 22 to face South Africa at Twickenham on Saturday.

The pair, along with Ireland centre Kevin Maggs, will all come back into contention for Sunday's Zurich Premiership meeting with third-placed Newcastle Falcons at the Rec (2.15pm).

Bath will still be missing Mike Catt and Danny Grewcock, both of whom have been picked to tackle the Springboks, while centre Mike Tindall and hooker Mark Regan have both been handed places on the bench.

In addition, flanker Gavin Thomas may be required by Wales for their test against Australia.

But the return of Perry and Borthwick will be a major boost as Bath try and climb off the foot of the table.

The return of Borthwick was expected after England skipper Martin Johnson recovered from injury shifting Leicester's Ben Kay on to the bench.

But the omission of Perry is something of a surprise, given his consistent form for his club this season.

Meanwhile, Bath prop John Mallett reckons the visitng Falcons must start as favourites for victory, given both sides' respective form so far this season and the fact that Bath will, once again, be understrength.

The one-cap England man said: "At the moment, Newcastle would be the favourites to beat us this weekend.

"We have put pressure on ourselves because of our results this season and everywhere you look there is another hard game.

"Sides are playing a pretty similar game plan against us and we have to be able to turn that around.''

He added: "While we're disappointed not to have those guys (the internationals) those players are not in the squad to consider.

"We knew this period was going to happen and we're going to have to deal with it better.''

Mallett also revealed the extent of the hurt in the camp at Bath current predicament.

He admitted: "It's very uncomfortable to look at the league table and knowing the history of the guys who have gone before us.

"We have let that proud record slip and that hurts me and the rest of the team.''

England: J Robinson (Sale), A Healey (Leicester), W Greenwood (Harlequins), M Catt (Bath), D Luger (Harlequins), J Wilkinson (Newcastle), K Bracken (Saracens), G Rowntree (Leicester), D West (Leicester), P Vickery (Gloucester), M Johnson (Leicester, capt), D Grewcock (Bath), R Hill (Saracens), N Back (Leicester), J Worsley (Wasps).

Replacements: M Regan (Bath), J Leonard (Harlequins), B Kay (Leicester), L Moody (Leicester), C Hodgson (Sale), M Tindall (Bath), B Cohen (Northampton).