Bath centre Tom Cheeseman is hoping the upcoming LV cup games will allow him to show coach Steve Meehan he merits a regular spot in his first XV.

The 24-year-old lines up against Leicester on Friday having started just three Premiership matches this season.

"There haven't been many opportunities for myself so games like these I have to take with two hands," Cheeseman told BBC Points West.

"We're all out there to impress and show what we can do."

Cheeseman continued: "I had a cracking start to the season starting the first two [Premiership] games.

Hopefully I can prove to Steve(Meehan) that I'm a real contender for that 13 shirt Tom Cheeseman

"But then Matt Carrarro stepped in and scored two tries which was great for him but didn't help my cause.

"I'm still loving rugby and being in Bath but hopefully I can prove to Steve(Meehan) that I'm a real contender for that 13 shirt."

Bath are due to make several changes to their regular side for the trip to Leicester with second-row forwards Danny Grewcock and Stuart Hooper unavailable through suspension and injury, while Australian flanker Julian Salvi has been given time off to get married.

But Cheeseman says the squad are in buoyant mood.

"We've had a good week training and are confident in ourselves," he said.

"We played an Ospreys side that were pretty strong and took them to the sword and got a victory.

"So we're full of confidence of getting a victory ourselves at Welford Road and making it two wins out of three."

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