MICHAEL LIPMAN has warned his Bath players to keep their emotions in check in the build-up to today's clash with Gloucester.

The early-season Recreation Ground encounter has taken on added significance following Gloucester's tame opening-day home defeat against Leicester.

And Bath skipper Lipman, back in the side after recovering from a head injury, is urging his men to peak at 2.45pm this afternoon – and not before.

"You don't want to play the game before the game actually happens," said Lipman.

"We have to keep our emotional levels down before the game and peak at 2.45pm.

"It is important to prepare as well as we possibly can and not to waste any energy before a game like this. You can't get too excited, because you won't be able to play as well as you want to.

"This is a big match, but we have to keep those emotions in check until we are on the field and the whistle goes."

Gloucester have never won a league game at the Rec, but captain Mike Tindall, who is returning to the club he served for seven years until 2005, is not concerning himself with that record.

"As a player, it's something you don't really think about at all – it's just a big game you want to win," he said.

"It's a great fixture – and I can imagine it's a great place to win and to silence the crowd.

"That's what we've got to do. We can't get caught up in past history – we are more interested in making our own."

Gloucester's former Bath centre Olly Barkley will not make his debut this afternoon after failing to recover from a wrist injury.