Newly-capped England lock McNally returns to the second row, partnering Charlie Ewels, after missing the beginning of the season with a shoulder injury while fellow international Stuart’s last appearance came back in May.

Joining the latter in the front row, Beno Obano is reinstated at loosehead prop and hooker Jacques du Toit earns his first start of the campaign.

Tom Ellis also comes into the pack, lining up at blindside flanker in a back alongside ever-present duo Sam Underhill and Josh Bayliss.

The backline remains unchanged from the seven players who started the defeat to Newcastle Falcons last time out.

It means a first away West Country derby experience with fans for Ollie Fox, Orlando Bailey, Max Ojomoh, Will Muir and Tom de Glanville. Experienced pair Semesa Rokoduguni and Jonathan Joseph complete the 15.

On the bench, Lewis Boyce makes his long-awaited return for Bath after almost a year on the sideline with injury while Anthony Watson appears in the 23 for the first time in the 2021/22 calendar following his rest period post-British & Irish Lions duty.

The opposition

15 Charles Piutau, 14 Ioan Lloyd, 13 Piers O’Conor, 12 Sam Bedlow, 11 Henry Purdy, 10 Callum Sheedy, 9 Harry Randall; 1 Yann Thomas, 2 Will Capon, 3 Kyle Sinckler, 4 Ed Holmes, 5 Joe Joyce, 6 Chris Vui, 7 Jake Heenan, 8 Steven Luatua (c)

Replacements

16 Jake Kerr, 17 Jake Woolmore, 18 Max Lahiff, 19 Fitz Harding, 20 Dan Thomas, 21 Andy Uren, 22 Antoine Frisch, 23 Alapati Leiua

McNally and Stuart return for Bath Rugby's trip to Bristol Bears

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