Salvi joined Bath from Australian Super 14 side ACT Brumbies

Bath's Australian back-row forward Julian Salvi says the squad have upped the ante in preparation for their home tie against old rivals Leicester.

"I've been given the heads-up by the guys and we've seen a lift in intensity just due to that fact," the 23-year-old told BBC Radio Bristol.

"The mentality has definitely changed from previous weeks.

"We actually had our first fight in training so everyone is brimming for this weekend."

The rivalry between the two sides dates back to the amateur days of rugby where both teams dominated the English game.

In the late eighties and early nineties Bath ruled the roost, picking up six league titles in eight seasons.

We actually had our first fight in training so everyone is brimming for this weekend Julian Salvi

More recently Leicester have had the upper hand, winning six Premiership titles in the last 10 years and picking up two Heineken Cups along the way.

By contrast, Bath's only silverware in the last decade has been the European Challenge Cup in 2008.

Last season, the two teams faced each other on four occasions with honours even in the two Premiership encounters.

However, in the Heineken Cup quarter-final and Premiership play-off semi-final the Tigers came out on top, going on to take the Premiership crown.

"It's going to be another tough battle against a team that likes to make it as difficult as possible for the opposition," said head coach Steve Meehan.

"So we're going to have to not just match Leicester's physical approach, we're going to have to better it."

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