SIMON Danielli already has one memory of being a losing visitor in a West County derby and it's not an experience he wants to repeat during Sunday's Premiership clash at the Memorial Stadium.
The 22-year-old was already a successful member of the all-conquering Bristol Under 21 outfit when he was plunged into an injury-ravaged first team to take on Bath at the Rec in March of last year
Bristol lost 39-13 and Oxford University Blue Danielli's only appearance for them lasted 67 minutes.
This weekend though, the 6ft 3in wing samples his second Bristol-Bath meeting with a different shade of blue on his back.
And he admits he will be as much in the dark as some of his teammates about the Memorial Stadium atmosphere awaiting them.
"I played there once with the Bristol Under 21s, but most of our other games were at Clifton,'' he explained. "But I never had any experience there with the first team.''
Any player returning to a former club can always expect a bit of special treatment but Danielli is convinced he made the right decision to swap Under 21 success with the Shoguns for a promising senior career up the M4.
"All-round it just seemed a better option in rugby and contract terms and development-wise,'' added the philosophy and theology student.
"It was a bit of a gamble and there was a contract on the table at Bristol, but I think I've done the right thing and I'm more than happy.''
Starting his Bath career in a blaze of glory, with a glut of tries in the pre-season matches, Danielli scored once against Saracens in the league before a hamstring injury interrupted his progress.
"It was some sort of strain and at any stage of the season it's frustrating to get injured,'' he admitted.
"But at the time, I was trying to establish myself in the first team and it meant that I couldn't do anything for three or four weeks.
"I missed four games and when I came back I wasn't 100 per cent. Now hopefully I'm firing on all cylinders.
"I feel like I haven't played many games recently, but when you have a game against one of your old clubs, you always hope to get the opportunity to get into the side.''
Danielli looks set to get that chance with Bath once again missing key players because of the home nations' international matches as they hope to break their Premiership duck away from home this season.
"Looking at it, I think things are definitely getting back on track and there is more of a feelgood factor, although we are still lounging around the bottom.'' added Danielli .
"Both sides have great players missing, but I think we have strength in depth so there should be no excuses.
"But it would be nice to score a try on Sunday.''
The draw for the sixth round of the National Cup when the 12 Premiership sides join the four surviving clubs will take place live on Sky prior to England's clash with Romania at Twickenham on Saturday.
The matches will be played on the weekend of the December 16-17.
Zurich Premiership bottom placed club London Wasps have fired assistant coaches Gareth Rees, the former Canada stand-off, and John Lamden.
The move has been made to try to halt the decline of the Loftus Road club, who have lost their last six domestic outings, are rooted to the foot of the Premiership table and are out of the Heineken Cup.
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