Coach Johann van Graan says Bath are primed for an all-English Investec Champions Cup quarter-final against the Northampton Saints on Friday night.
The clash pits last season’s Premiership champions against the losing finalists in the Champions Cup.
The two sides have also set the pace domestically this season, separated by just a single point at the top of the Premiership standings after 12 rounds.
“We are looking very good. We came through Saturday with just a few bumps and bruises,” Van Graan said, as quoted by the Northampton Chronicle & Echo.
“We have some sore bodies because that was some game, and respect to Saracens. We are in a great place as a squad.”
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Bath beat Saracens 31-22 at The Rec in the last 16, while Northampton overcame Castres 49-41.
“Northampton are a team we respect so much and have been involved in some big battles in the last few years,” said Van Graan.
“And what’s at stake if you get through this is you play either the winners of last year’s Champions Cup in Bordeaux or the French champions Toulouse.
“It is important to acknowledge and enjoy these moments because, certainly at this club, they haven’t happened for a long time.
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“Northampton have some of the best players in the Premiership, they score some fantastic tries and they played in last season’s Champions Cup final in Cardiff against Bordeaux and this is their third quarter-final in a row in this competition,” Van Graan added.
“But all that matters is what happens at 8pm [9pm SA time] on Friday night. It is a knockout game, and it is going to be a great occasion.”
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In addition to coming through the Saracens game largely unscathed, Van Graan can also look forward to several players returning from injury, including South African loose forward Jaco Coetzee, who has recovered from an ACL injury.
Photo: David Rogers/Getty Images
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