Fit-again hooker Lee Mears is eyeing an England return

Mears last played for England in the 2010 Six Nations earlier this year

Bath hooker Lee Mears has set his sights on silverware to help force his way back into England contention.

The 31-year-old is thinking big despite only returning from a torn bicep in the LV= Cup victory against Cardiff Blues.

"If we can get to finals and start winning matches then you force yourself upon the selectors," he told BBC Sport.

"If you play well for Bath you'll hopefully get picked for England. I've got to get my own form right and there might be a chance at some point."

Mears featured for England in the Six Nations earlier this year and scored on the tour down under against the Australian Barbarians in the summer.

However, he now finds himself down the international pecking order behind elite squad hookers Dylan Hartley, Steve Thompson and George Chuter and was at Twickenham to watch the 26-16 defeat by New Zealand as a spectator.

Thommo will probably be a bit peeved at being dropped, but when you lose you know they're going to make changes and Dylan's probably had the form in the Premiership at the moment

Lee Mears

"It would have been lovely to be involved, but at the moment I've just got to get myself right," added Mears, who is in the Saxons squad.

"Thommo will probably be a bit peeved at being dropped, but when you lose you know they're going to make changes and Dylan's probably had the form in the Premiership at the moment.

"Thommo did a fantastic job on tour and deserved to keep his place, but if they're talking about picking on form Dylan's definitely playing well for Northampton and deserves a crack.

"George showed last year, it's about peaking at the right time. He came into a Leicester team that was involved in a final and they picked him from there."

The British and Irish Lion played the last 20 minutes in a much-changed XV in the 29-19 win at home to Blues and admitted to some nerves at testing the injury in the heat of battle.

"I came through it and I'm hoping for a few more minutes this weekend at Wasps," Mears added.

"They're tough at Adams Park and it'll be a tough ask, but I'm sure we'll put in a good effort.

"And it's about playing the rugby, getting these boys playing in the style we want to carry on with at Bath. If we do that the win will take care of itself and if we can qualify it will be a good thing to chase."