David Barnes has called for an end to the "crazy" and "ridiculous" fixture scheduling which is forcing Bath to play three games in the next eight days, writes Steve Cotton.

Bath take on Sale at Edgeley Park tonight, before hosting Wasps on Wednesday and Harlequins a week tomorrow.

The Wasps match was rearranged from January 10, when the Recreation Ground pitch was deemed unplayable due to frost.

Bath had wanted to reschedule the fixture for January 31 but were told England Saxons' clash with Portugal took precedence – even though three Guinness Premiership matches were played that weekend.

So Bath head coach Steve Meehan is now being forced to carefully manage his squad – and has opted to leave star men Butch James, Michael Claassens, Alex Crockett, Matt Banahan and Joe Maddock out of tonight's clash.

Prop Barnes, who is the Professional Rugby Players' Association chairman, said: "It's ridiculous for anyone to think a player can go through an intense and physical encounter and get themselves ready to play again a few days later.

"To have to play Friday-Wednesday-Saturday is a crazy situation. We weren't allowed to reschedule the Wasps game because England took preference – even though there were other Premiership games played that weekend.

"Everyone, whether it's the RFU or the clubs, likes to talk about player welfare – but only when it suits them.

"We need to get rid of these midweek games – there needs to be a protocol in place to stop games being pushed into midweek, because it's just no good for the players."

Bath are fifth in the Premiership but have one game in hand on title rivals Leicester and Harlequins and two games in hand on Gloucester and London Irish.

And Barnes appreciates exactly how important the next eight days are for his side's play-off push.

"It's a big eight days for the club," he said. "We need to convert those games in hand into points now.

"By the end of next week, we'll have caught up in terms of games so we'll have a true league picture.

"We're looking for a top-two finish, so realistically we've got to be up around the top two by the end of next week."

Meehan has named a strong pack for tonight's match, with Barnes, Duncan Bell, Justin Harrison, Michael Lipman and Daniel Browne all set to start.

And Barnes is confident players such as the returning fly-half Ryan Davis can also make an impact as Bath look to open their hectic schedule with a victory.

"You simply won't get the best out of people if you play them in every game – and that's where the squad comes into it," he said.

"We're very lucky we've got a strong squad, with people like Ryan Davis coming back from injury, so we've probably got enough strength to pick from.

"The coaches have an opportunity to target games, but as a player, you will always give 100 per cent whenever you take the field. For us as players, it's always the same."

Davis, 23, comes in for his first start in 17 months after overcoming two major knee operations.

And he is looking forward to replacing World Cup winner James, who misses a Premiership or Heineken Cup match for the first time this season.

"Butch has definitely set the bar quite high, but I've got my game and he's got his," said Davis. "And I think the team have done so well that I can slip into what they are doing. Everyone knows their own roles, so it's a matter of me adding my little touch to it."

Sale Sharks: N Macleod; M Cueto, M Tait, L Thomas, O Ripol; C Hodgson, R Wigglesworth; A Sheridan, S Bruno, E Roberts, C Jones, B Cockbain, J White, N Briggs, J-M Fernandez Lobbe. Reps: L Faure, S Turner, S Cox, D Tait, D Peel, R Keil, S Kuadey.

Bath: N Abendanon; M Stephenson, T Cheeseman, S Hape, A Higgins; R Davis, S Bemand; D Barnes, R Hawkins, D Bell, J Harrison, S Hooper, J Fa'amatuainu, M Lipman (capt), D Browne. Reps: M Lilley, A Jarvis, P Short, A Beattie, M Baxter, E Fuimaono, J Cuthbert.