Steve Meehan has warned his Bath players that Bristol's desperate Guinness Premiership plight will actually make them a more dangerous opponent this afternoon, writes Steve Cotton.

The Bath head coach, who is still pained by his club's double league defeat against Bristol in his first season in charge, expects a carefree attitude from Paul Hull's men.

Bristol are 12 points adrift at the bottom of the table with seven matches – including away games at Bath, Wasps, London Irish and Leicester – left to save their season.

And Meehan believes that Bristol's awareness of their near-certain relegation will allow them to throw off the shackles in today's Recreation Ground derby.

"The position Bristol are in makes them more dangerous because they're playing with a lot more freedom now," said Meehan, whose side have slipped to sixth in the table after a draw against London Irish and last weekend's defeat at Gloucester.

"If you give them half an opportunity, they are capable of taking that. They are throwing the ball around and trying to play with a bit more width and speed in their game – and frankly they've got nothing to lose.

"They could come down here, throw it around for 80 minutes and see what damage they can do. We'll have to be aware of that."

Meehan tasted home and away defeats against Bath's old rivals during his debut campaign at the Rec in 2006-07 – but saw his side claim a double last season.

And following the opening-day 33-20 win at the Memorial Stadium, the Australian is desperate to complete another double today.

"There's something special about these games, there's no doubt," he said.

"The first season I was here, Bristol beat us home and away and that still sits with me – and I'm sure it still sits with some of the players. We want to do the double again this season as we did last."