Andrew Higgins' hat-trick heroics for Bath at Worcester are unlikely to be enough to keep him in the team for Saturday's clash with London Irish.

Head coach Steve Meehan has confirmed that, despite Higgins' try treble in the 34-17 bonus-point win five days ago, Matt Banahan, Nick Abendanon and Alex Crockett are all set to return for the tie.

The in-form trio missed the Guinness Premiership trip to Sixways through illness, but have all trained this week and are undoubtedly first-choice selections at the Recreation Ground.

Abendanon's return at full-back would see Joe Maddock switch to one wing, with Banahan coming in on the other, meaning Higgins would have to make do with a place on the bench at best.

"It was nice for me to be involved again at the weekend. It had been a while since I played 80 minutes and I really enjoyed it," said Higgins.

"I scored three tries, although for two of them I just had to fall over the line – they were team tries.

"Whether it was enough for me to keep my place is out of my hands. I'm just going to do what I can – train as hard as I can and then if I get a chance I will play as hard as I can. That's all I can do."

Meehan felt Higgins' contribution in Bath's impressive victory underlined the strength of his squad as they approach the final straight in both the Premiership and Heineken Cup.

But just as he did last year, when Tom Cheeseman scored a hat-trick in a league match at Worcester only to be replaced by Crockett the following week, Meehan hinted that he will not pick the team for this weekend's match on the strength of one game, albeit his club's most recent outing.

"Higgins was the beneficiary of a lot of good work inside him last weekend," said Meehan.

"He finished off some things – and took a nice read defensively to take the intercept for his first try.

"With the other two, he was doing a good role as a winger and finishing off nicely."

But the head coach added that Higgins' performance had not complicated his selection process for the visit of second-placed Irish.

And Higgins, who has now scored seven tries from only six starts this season, knows he has to continue working hard if he is to play a key role in Bath's run-in.

"Of course I care and I am thinking about it, but I have no control over whether I play," he said.

"Trying to stay fit has been tough at times this season, but also other guys are playing really well and I can't go away from that. Matt Banahan, Joe Maddock, Nick Abendanon and Michael Stephenson, they are all playing well, and then there are guys like Jack Cuthbert who are really coming on.

"It has been frustrating this season, though, because I haven't felt like my body has been quite right. As frustrating as selection issues are, you've got to look at yourself and say, 'I've got to do better'. When you are picking up bangs and knocks, that's what really frustrates me.

"But now I'm feeling good and I know my body is right and I've done the best I could at the weekend.

"My goal remains to play every weekend. I would love to be involved in every game until the end of the season, right up to the Heineken Cup final."