Perfectionist Butch James believes Bath can count themselves lucky to be top of the Guinness Premiership – and has promised much more from the pacesetters in 2009.

The South African fly-half has helped guide his team to the Premiership summit heading into the new year – but knows they can improve upon their recent form.

Bath have won their last four matches, including a tricky Heineken Cup double-header against Glasgow, since defeat at Harlequins in late November.

But James expects better in the coming months as they strive for a first league title success in 13 years.

"It's obviously nice being on top – but I think we're a bit lucky to be there at the moment," said James.

"I don't think we've been playing too well, but that is also quite a good sign – we're not playing our best rugby and we're still scraping wins.

"We've had a bit of luck, but we've also put in a lot of hard work and it's good to be on top.

"Let's hope we can pick it up a bit, start playing better and then peak at play-off time."

Bath head to Welford Road to face Leicester on Sunday hoping to build on their one-point lead over London Irish at the head of the Premiership.

But to do so they will have to overcome a side who left the Rec in November seething at having been beaten by James' last-second try.

"It is a good sign that we can win games when we've not been playing too well – but we know we've been lucky in one or two of them as well," said James, clearly referring to that 25-21 victory.

"Leicester will be up for it this weekend – not just because of what happened here, but because they drew in the last moments of the game against Harlequins at the weekend.

"They will be really fired up – and it's a home game for them as well, so we know it's going to be tough.

"They showed when they went ahead against Harlequins that they are definitely still one of the better teams in the Premiership – but, like us, they have got to put together 80 minutes of rugby.

"If they can do that then they will be even harder to beat."

And James is well aware of just how dangerous Bath could be if they could sustain that elusive 80-minute performance.

"I think we're slowly getting better," he said. "About four weeks ago, we were really playing 40 or 60-minute games, but the in the last three weeks or so we have been putting together better performances.

"I don't think we have played for 80 minutes yet, but it has certainly been closer to 60 or 70 minutes. We've still got to pick it up a bit."

James' fellow South African fly-half Derick Hougaard will replace Toby Flood for Leicester on Sunday. Flood has to be rested under the same agreement that will see Pieter Dixon and Duncan Bell replace Lee Mears and Matt Stevens for Bath.

Tigers acting head coach Richard Cockerill says there are doubts over No 8 Jordan Crane and full-back Scott Hamilton but he expects both men to be fit for selection.

"Jordan dislocated his thumb but there is nothing broken and he should be fit," said Cockerill. "Scott had a knock on his hip but he should be fit. We are not far away but there are still some important players missing."