The Bristol Bears players have been given an extra jump in their step at the thought of kicking the 2022/23 Gallagher Premiership season off with a win over derby rivals Bath Rugby, Pat Lam confirmed.
For the third time in five years Bristol will get their season underway under the Friday night lights at Ashton Gate against Bath and after both side's started their campaigns poorly last season there will be added emphasis on getting off to a flying start.
In 2021/22, Bristol were beaten by Saracens on the opening night of the season and went on to finish a highly disappointing 10th having been at the summit of the table the previous year heading into the play-offs.
READ MORE: Bristol Bears' 2022/23 Gallagher Premiership fixtures in full
Bath lost narrowly away at Sale Sharks as the Blue, Black and White began a torrid season which saw them finish bottom of the table for the first time in the professional era and essentially cost the club's coaching staff their jobs, with director of rugby Stuart Hooper and Neal Hatley both being demoted and South African Johann van Graan arriving this summer as head of rugby from Munster.
Discussing the derby date to kick off the Premiership season on September 9, Bristol director of rugby Lam said: "We missed not having the game last year, it is good to be back. Having Bath first up again gives us a really good focal point and for both sets of supporters as well.
"It is a new coaching team at Bath, with Johann coming in, I am sure they will enjoy that occasion.
"I think Premiership Rugby are always looking for a game to kick their season off in style, the previous two times this derby game has kicked off the season it has done that and I think we can be confident it will again.
"It should be another great evening. If everything goes well and everyone gets behind us it should be another sell-out night.
Lam added: "Both sets of players will be buzzing around this game. When we saw the fixtures come out we made it our number one focus and as we go through pre-season everyone will be fighting to be involved in that game."
