Ovens is a former England Under-18 international

Bath's Josh Ovens says the next two LV= Cup games are his chance to show he deserves a regular first team spot.

The flanker, 21, has been on the fringes of Bath's Premiership and Heineken Cup squads but gets a rare start against Newcastle on Saturday.

"It's a really good chance for me and other players to go out and prove a point," Ovens told BBC Radio Bristol.

"Every time I start or from the bench I've got to make sure I'm playing as well as I can to impress the coaches."

Ovens has only started two other games this season for Bath, both in the LV= Cup, in the win at home to Cardiff and a narrow loss at Wasps.

And he has come off the bench in five Premiership encounters and Bath's final two Heineken Cup ties against Aironi and Biarritz.

But despite the coaches deciding to make changes and give youth a chance Ovens believes the team will be just as strong.

"I don't think they'll be putting out a weaker team I think it will be as strong as it would be if they were putting out the older players," he said.

"We just want to go out there and win so when the international players come back they've got to fight to get back in the team."

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