Bath’s back-row resources are set to be bolstered by the return of Lewis Moody and Carl Fearns in two weeks’ time.

The two flankers, who have been battling long-term shoulder and knee injuries respectively, returned to squad training this week.

If the final stage of the duo’s rehabilitation goes according to plan, then ex-England skipper Moody will be available to take on his former club Leicester Tigers in the semi-final of the LV= Anglo-Welsh Cup at The Rec on Friday, March 9.

Bath are the competition’s top seeds having rounded off a flawless group stage on Sunday with a comfortable victory at Exeter Chiefs, while the Tigers sneaked into the semis as fourth seeds.

Due to injury, Moody has yet to play against his former club since moving to The Rec in the summer of 2010 and Bath director of rugby Sir Ian McGeechan expects him to get some Premiership game-time before the semi-final.

Moody required a shoulder operation following an injury picked up at Worcester in November, while Fearns managed just four starts for his new club before being laid low by a knee injury.

“Lewis has come back well from his injury and with him and Carl we are looking at having them involved in the next couple of weeks,” McGeechan said.

Things are not so bright for Bath and England prop Davey Wilson, though, who has gone under the knife and had a plate inserted after breaking his jaw against Exeter. The tighthead will be sidelined for between four and six weeks.

Kane Palma Newport, who has returned from a loan deal with Championship side Leeds Carnegie, will provide cover.

“It is unfortunate for Davey, not just because of the Six Nations, but because he had been playing well,” said McGeechan. “Over the past couple of months he had been perhaps the tighthead of the Premiership.

“But we have Kane back with us now. He returned to us in the third week of January, because the plan had always been to have him back while Davey would be away with England. It will be another good opportunity for him.”

Bath’s prospects ahead of Saturday’s Premiership showdown with Newcastle have also been helped by the early release from the England Elite Player Squad of Dave Attwood, Lee Mears and Matt Banahan.