Handre Pollard to make long-awaited return from injury for Montpellier

Springbok flyhalf Handre Pollard is set to make his long-awaited return from injury after being named on the bench for Montpellier's European Challenge Cup clash against Bath on  Saturday.

Pollard has been sidelined since last October after rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in a French Top 14 clash against Racing 92.

Pollard's return is another boost for the Springboks ahead of the British & Irish Lions series, with flank Pieter-Steph du Toit also back in action for the Stormers this weekend, while Munster-based lock RG Snyman is soon to return from a knee injury.

South Africans in the Montpellier starting line-up include Johan Goosen at outside centre, Nicolaas Janse van Rensburg at flank and Paul Willemse at lock.

Hooker Bismarck du Plessis and scrumhalf Cobus Reinach join Pollard on the bench.

Saturday's clash at Bath's Recreation Ground is scheduled for 21:00 (SA time).

Teams:

Bath

15 Anthony Watson, 14 Joe Cokanasiga, 13 Jonathan Joseph, 12 Cameron Redpath, 11 Will Muir, 10 Orlando Bailey, 9 Ben Spencer, 8 Zach Mercer, 7 Sam Underhill, 6 Taulupe Faletau, 5 Charlie Ewels (captain), 4 Josh McNally, 3 Will Stuart, 2 Tom Dunn, 1 Juan Schoeman

Substitutes: 16 Jack Walker, 17 Jamie Bhatti, 18 Henry Thomas, 19 Elliott Stooke, 20 Josh Bayliss, 21 Miles Reid, 22 Will Chudley, 23 Max Clark

Montpellier

15 Anthony Bouthier, 14 Julien Tisseron, 13 Johan Goosen, 12 Arthur Vincent, 11 Vincent Rattez, 10 Alex Lozowski, 9 Benoit Paillaugue, 8 Alexandre Becognee, 7 Yacouba Camara, 6 Nicolaas Janse van Rensburg, 5 Paul Willemse, 4 Florian Verhaeghe, 3 Mohamed Haouas, 2 Guilhem Guirado (captain), 1 Enzo Forletta

Substitutes: 16 Bismarck du Plessis, 17 Grégory Fichten, 18 Titi Lamositele, 19 Tyler Duguid, 20 Fulgence Ouedraogo, 21 Cobus Reinach, 22 Handre Pollard, 23 Vincent Martin