Justin Harrison has given Bath a new year boost by signing a 12-month contract extension – but Danny Grewcock is facing a lengthy spell on the sidelines after undergoing foot surgery, writes Steve Cotton.

Steve Meehan reported mixed news for his veteran second-row forwards yesterday, admitting that Grewcock will miss "months rather than weeks" after an operation to repair his damaged foot.

There was better news regarding former Australia lock Harrison, with the Guinness Premiership leaders set to confirm today that the formalities of his new one-year deal have been completed.

The 34-year-old, who won 34 caps for the Wallabies after making his Test debut during the 2001 Lions series, joined Bath from Ulster in the summer and has been a revelation at the Recreation Ground.

Harrison has started 14 of his side's 17 matches so far this season - and has been a major factor as to why Bath have hardly missed skipper Steve Borthwick, who left for Saracens last season.

"It was an easy decision to offer Justin another year here," said Meehan.

"He has brought an enormous amount of experience, he works well with the young guys - and his performances on the field over the course of the first four months have been very, very good.

"There were a couple of games in early December when he perhaps didn't live up to his own expectations, but that may have been down to the amount of rugby he has had to play.

"If you're playing Premiership and Heineken Cup, I think you can expect the intensity of those two competitions to be a little bit higher than what he had been used to over the last few seasons.

"But bringing him off the bench last weekend to play the last 20 minutes has brightened him up again and I would expect another strong performance from him this weekend and through to the end of January."

Harrison has adapted well to life at Bath despite playing with a variety of second-row partners in Grewcock, Peter Short and Stuart Hooper since his arrival.

"His partnerships with Grewcock, Short and Hooper have all worked well for us, so it has not been difficult," said Meehan.

"He has worked hard, the squad enjoys him and it's good to see the continuity with him signing a new contract."

But while Harrison continues to prosper in his debut season at Bath, Grewcock's frustrating campaign has just got a whole lot worse.

The 36-year-old former England man has managed only four starts all season because of his current problem and an earlier bicep injury, which also required surgery.

"We'll be without Danny for a period longer than just weeks," said Meehan. "He has had to have surgery and he will be out for some time.

"He is, historically, somebody who heals quickly but we'll just have to see how this one goes. We should plan to be without him for a while."

Bath will also be without England front row pair Matt Stevens and Lee Mears for Sunday's trip to Leicester, with both having to be rested as part of the new Elite Player Squad deal between the Rugby Football Union and the Premiership clubs.

But flanker Michael Lipman, despite featuring heavily in England's autumn Test series, is free to play for Bath as he was not an EPS member at the start of the season.

Leicester will be prepared and coached by Richard Cockerill this weekend as boss Heyneke Meyer has returned to South Africa following a family illness.