Investec Champions Cup: Benetton v Bath
Venue: Stadio di Monigo, Treviso Date: Sunday, 15 December Kick-off: 13:00 GMT
Coverage: Listen to live commentary on BBC Radio Bristol and BBC Sounds, follow live text commentary on the BBC Sport website and app
Miles Reid will captain Bath as one of only four players to retain his place in the starting XV for their Investec Champions Cup trip to Benetton.
The Premiership leaders were beaten by La Rochelle in the opening game of the competition but Bath head of rugby Johann van Graan has made wholesale changes to rest some of his players with a busy Christmas period to come.
Reid is the only forward to retain his place in the pack, while full-back Tom de Glanville, centre Cameron Redpath and scrum-half Louis Schreuder will go again in the backs.
Prop Vilikesa Sela, flanker Ethan Staddon and winger Regan Grace will make their European debuts.
Italian club Benetton, meanwhile, make six changes to the side that failed to score a point in their opening defeat away at Clermont Auvergne.
Full-back Rhyno Smith, centre Malakai Fekitoa and scrum-half Andy Uren return in the backs, while prop Marco Spagnolo, hooker Siua Maile and number eight Toa Halafihi are all recalled in the pack.
The hosts are playing in their first Champions Cup since the 2019-20 season, but Van Graan expects a tough challenge in Treviso.
“They are basically the Italian national team, with a few very good Argentinians, South Africans and Islanders, which makes for a very good team, especially at home,” said Van Graan.
“I’ve coached there many times with a different club and they’re a different beast at home.
“They’re well coached and they’ve got a good set-piece and good kicking game. They’ve got really good broken-field runners; the two centres and an Argentinian fly-half. They’re a well-rounded team and it’ll be another tough game.
“There are no easy games in this competition and there shouldn’t be. We’re going to use the squad and we’re going to genuinely enjoy this weekend.”
Benetton: Smith; Lynagh, Menoncello, Fekitoa, Ratave; Albornoz, Uren; Spagnolo, Maile, Ferrari, Cannone, Ruzza (capt), Negri, Zuliani, Halafihi.
Replacements: Bernasconi, Gallo, Pasquali, Favretto, Izekor, Garbisi, Umaga, Brex
Bath: De Glanville; Grace, Ojomoh, Redpath, McConnochie; Bailey, Schreuder; Van Wyk, Annett, Sela, Richards, Molony, Bayliss, Staddon, Reid (capt).
Replacements: Tuipulotu, Cordwell, Du Toit, Roux, Hill, Carr-Smith, Hennessey, Coetzee
Referee: Sam Grove-White (Scotland)
