While Matt Stevens awaits his disciplinary hearing following his failed drugs test, you could be forgiven for thinking Duncan Bell's position in the Bath team was completely assured.

The 34-year-old is the only experienced tighthead prop in Bath's Guinness Premiership and Heineken Cup title-chasing squad and has been a guaranteed pick since Stevens tested positive for a recreational drug last month.

But as he prepares to face London Irish at the Recreation Ground today, the veteran front-rower accepts that he has a fight on his hands every week to keep hold of the No 3 shirt.

Aaron Jarvis and Paulica Ion are the men putting the pressure on and even if, on the face of it, Bell's place in the starting line-up appears as certain as Butch James, Michael Claassens or Joe Maddocks, the prop disagrees. "I've just had a chat with Steve Meehan and my place isn't secure and nor should it be," said Bell.

"No one's place should be secure, whether you're Butch James, Michael Claassens, Michael Lipman or whoever.

"This squad has got strength in depth and there's still Aaron Jarvis and Paulica Ion in the tighthead mix at the moment.

"I have never, ever considered my place, whether it is now when I am supposedly first choice, or when Matt was here, second choice, to be comfortable.

"You always want to strive to improve and everyone wants to beat the man who is ahead of them. I am certainly not resting on my laurels, far from it.

"If you get into a comfort zone as a rugby player, and you know you are going to get picked, it's not going to bring the best out of you."

Bell is relishing his regular involvement in the Bath side again after fighting back from a serious knee injury which kept him out of the game for 16 months. But at the same time, he accepts the circumstances surrounding his return to the first team are particularly unusual.

"We're giving Matt as much support as we can and we hope that, although we don't condone drug-taking in any way, the authorities understand why he did it, and hopefully any ban he gets won't be as bad as some people are predicting," said Bell.

"But I see him as being injured; I don't see him as being out because of a drug problem.

"He is not here because he can't play, so now I have got my opportunity to try to play my own game and impact on the team in my own particular way.

"It wont be the same as Matt's, because we are completely different players, but I've now got my chance and I'm trying to take it.

"A few months ago, my position in the squad was as a back-up tighthead, and while I wasn't happy with that, I wasn't going to have a footballer's tantrum and throw my toys out of the pram. But you don't want to play because of injuries; you want to play because you are the best player in your position.

"And I am constantly working to try to improve even at my age.

Winger Andrew Higgins, a hat-trick hero in last weekends 34-17 win at Worcester, keeps his place in the side despite head coach Meehan's midweek hint that he would drop to the bench.

"Higgy's one of those players who can be absolutely amazing," said Bell.

"He is so powerful and last weekend he had one of the best games he has had in a Bath shirt. He was special. "

Bath: J Maddock; A Higgins, A Crockett, E Fuimaono, M Banahan; B James, M Claassens; D Flatman, P Dixon, D Bell, J Harrison, S Hooper, A Beattie, M Lipman (capt), D Browne. Reps: R Hawkins, A Jarvis, P Short, J Faamatuainu, S Bemand, S Berne, N Abendanon.

London Irish: T Homer; T Ojo, E Sevealii, S Mapusua, A Thompstone; S Geraghty, P Hodgson; C Dermody, J Buckland, A Corbisiero, J Hudson, B Casey (capt), R Thorpe, S Armitage, C Halaufia. Reps: T Leaaetoa, D Coetzee, G Johnson, D Danaher, P Richards, A Lalanne, E Hickey.