After a disastrous 2008, Steve Meehan believes there is finally light at the end of the tunnel for Bath's Ryan Davis in 2009, writes Steve Cotton.

The 23-year-old fly-half has not played since October 2007 after several rounds of knee surgery – but head coach Meehan says he is close to returning to rugby training.

Davis will be re-introduced to non-contact sessions when Meehan takes his players to a winter training camp in Seville later this month – and could be back on the pitch by the middle of March.

"We expect him back early-to-mid March," said Meehan. "He will start joining in with the rugby training from a non-contact point of view at the end of January when we go on camp.

"The unfortunate aspect of that is that it's a strength and conditioning camp and not a rugby camp. So we will have to use some of the Academy guys to do some three, four and five-man drills to get him slowly into the groove there.

"Hopefully, he will come back and have an injury-free run to the end of the season.

"He could then come in at the beginning of next season confident and raring to go, because he's a talented young bloke, there's no doubt."

Those Bath players not involved in the RBS Six Nations will head to Seville on Monday, January 26 – the day after their potential Heineken Cup pool decider against Toulouse – and return on Saturday, January 31.

The club have secured an outside sponsor to pay for what Meehan sees as an essential mid-season training camp.

First he must prepare his Guinness Premiership leaders for Sunday's trip to fourth-placed Leicester. And the Australian is relishing the trip to Welford Road, where Leicester have won their last six matches in all competitions.

"Welford Road is one of those you really look forward to as an away fixture," said Meehan. "Their supporters are so passionate about their team, they are right on top of the field and there's either an enormous amount of noise or none at all.

"They are terrific rugby supporters – they understand the traditions of the game and their knowledge of rugby is probably quite good as well. That all makes it worthwhile and adds to the atmosphere."