Bath have made two changes for today’s derby clash with Gloucester at the Recreation Ground.

Nathan Catt comes in at loosehead prop and Stuart Hooper returns to the second row, replacing Dave Attwood who has failed to shake off a groin strain.

Attwood suffered the injury in the bonus point victory over Newcastle Falcons last weekend and misses the chance to face his former club.

Michael Claassens and Tom Heathcote continue at half-back with Olly Barkley and Matt Banahan in the centre.

Ross Batty, Charlie Beech, Duncan Bell and Jack Cuthbert return to the matchday squad on the bench.

Politics and economics student Heathcote is relishing the chance to continue at fly-half.

The Bath-born tyro began the season as a teenager hoping to squeeze onto the replacements’ bench while the club’s star players were away at the World Cup. He now finds himself the side’s starting fly- half, bossing many of those World Cup players around.

Fortune has played its part. If Stephen Donald had not strained his medial ligaments, then Heathcote would not have started against Newcastle Falcons last weekend.

But the vigour with which Heathcote has seized his opportunities has set him apart as a rare talent.

He has already played 15 games, notching up 85 points in the process.

And he also happens to be a full-time student at the University of Bath, although next year he will go part-time having penned a three-year deal with the club.

While his fellow students enjoy lie-ins and Wednesday night drinking sessions, Heathcote has to be more disciplined.

“You can’t act as a normal student would and go out midweek with all your uni friends,” he says. “But when I go to the library, I completely get away from rugby and focus on my studies. It can help to have a different focus.”

He added: “I came into the season wanting to compete for a place on the bench. The aim was to get some time on the bench before Stephen Donald arrived and then maybe have some more game-time in the LV= Cup.

“I’ve definitely had a lot more time on the pitch and more starts than I expected.

“And with Stephen being injured now, I’ll hopefully be getting a run of games for the next few weeks.

“It continues to be a challenge to improve but I feel a lot more comfortable than I did.”

‘Uncomfortable’ would have been an apt word to describe the situation Heathcote found himself in when he made his debut in September. The Gloucester crowd were scenting victory, Bath were trailing and struggling to keep hold of the ball, and Sam Vesty’s back had just gone into spasm. Heathcote was summoned off the bench and into the bear pit. He said: “It was a pretty tough game. There’s a great atmosphere at Kingsholm and they really get stuck into visiting teams.

“It was pretty daunting for a first game but it was a good experience. And there’s definitely an added incentive for me this week with us playing Gloucester again.”

Bath (home to Gloucester, today, 2.30pm): Sam Vesty; Olly Woodburn, Matt Banahan, Olly Barkley, Tom Biggs; Tom Heathcote, Michael Claassens; Nathan Catt, Lee Mears, Anthony Perenise, Stuart Hooper, Ryan Caldwell, Ben Skirving, Francois Louw, Simon Taylor. Replacements: Ross Batty, Charlie Beech, Duncan Bell, Guy Mercer, Josh Ovens, Chris Cook, Matt Carraro, Jack Cuthbert.