Wasps in the spotlight ahead of game with Bristol

If Bristol are to claim their second Guinness Premiership victory of the season, they must succeed for the first time at Adams Park and bring Wasps' seven-match winning run to an end.

Bristol have yet to win in four visits to High Wycombe and their last victory on Wasps soil came in April 2000 when Bob Dwyer's side beat the Londoners 31-25 at Loftus Road.

If that wasn't bad enough, Wasps seem to be coping well without their England contingent of Riki Flutey, Phil Vickery, Simon Shaw, James Haskell, Joe Worsley, while Tom Palmer and Paul Sackey are injured. They pushed leaders Gloucester all the way at Kingsholm last weekend in a 24-22 defeat.

Wasps' director of rugby Ian McGeechan said: "On the back of a close call at Kingsholm, where we saw a strong Wasps performance, there is great spirit and determination in our players and it is now important that we fine tune our game and our execution.

"Every fixture is must-win for us and we are just looking at the remainder of the season game by game – starting with Bristol at Adams Park."

Wasps have made one change to their starting line-up with Pat Barnard back in the side at tighthead, while former Bristol prop Tim Payne moves to loosehead.

Another ex-Bristol player, Josh Lewsey, has been declared fit and starts at inside centre, despite being forced from the field at Kingsholm after sustaining a severe hematoma to his quadracep.

Tom Rees is named in the side but Wasps are still waiting for clearance from the Rugby Football Union. In the event that he stays with England, Dan Leo will start and Hugo Ellis will be on the bench.

Lock Richard Birkett will run out for his 200th club appearance, following an illustrious 11-year career with his one and only club.