Bristol Bears are set to unleash two of their true world-class stars to face Leicester Tigers as Semi Radradra and Ellis Genge will run out at Ashton Gate as the hosts look to end a run of six defeats in the league and climb up from 10th in the table.
Fijian centre Radradra has recovered from knee surgery and will play his first game since April while Bristolian loosehead prop Genge returns from a month of international duty with England in the Autumn Nations series.
However, Genge will not be joined in the Bristol front row this weekend by England teammate Kyle Sinckler who suffered a leg injury in the 27-13 defeat to the Springboks on Saturday and is set for a month on the side lines.
Bears director of rugby Pat Lam said: “Kyle took a knock in those first 40 minutes for England so unfortunately, he has come back injured. He will probably miss, three, potentially four weeks. That is disappointing but it is just how it is so he will get back into his rehab.”
"He might make it back for the Quins game right after Christmas."
READ MORE: Bristol Bears superstar Semi Radradra linked with Top 14 return
The good news is Bristol have already added additional tighthead cover by securing the services of former Worcester Warriors prop Jay Tyack until the end of the season.
Lam continued: “Ellis has come back but we have just given him a few days to freshen up mentally.
“He will play this week and then won’t play the next two games [in the Challenge Cup] which works nicely because he has a second child on the way in that period of time so he should get a good period of time off and he will be back for the game against Quins [on December 27].
Elsewhere in the squad, Lam confirmed Callum Sheedy’s early withdrawal in the 25-20 defeat to Sale Sharks at the AJ Bell Stadium last weekend was due to illness which has been going around the Bears camp in the last fortnight and has caused disruption to training.
Lam said: “Callum was sick. We have had a bit of sickness in the team. Luke Morahan missed most of last week as well, it's mainly the players who have got kids. Callum has been down, AJ MacGinty has been down this week as well. We have had a bit of sickness in the camp, there were some players who only trained once last week, a couple have missed a few days this week as well but hopefully, everyone will be back on board by Thursday. It is just that time of year with colds, flu and bugs going around.
Backrowers Fitz Harding and Magnus Bradbury also suffered head knocks which saw them fail HIAs last weekend meaning they won’t be involved for the Bears against Tigers in a blow as Lam looks for field a pack to match the power of the reigning champions.
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