And Thunder know they will need to put in a significantly improved display compared to last time out against Celtic Dragon, where they limped to a three-goal victory in Cardiff.
Coach Dan Ryan admitted after last week’s lacklustre display that if Thunder didn’t eradicate the errors, they would be’ punished by the top ranked’ sides’. This clash comes at an ideal time to right the wrongs and draw upon that blistering display when the sides met in the corresponding fixture, where the Black and Yellows blew Bath away with power and flair. A number of players have been off-colour in recent games and will be looking to regain their sharpness, and facing a top-four team should be ample motivation to do it.
Bath will be full of confidence after thrashing Yorkshire Jets with a 30-goal margin in round nine, and they looked especially solid in defence with England international Sam Cook back on court.
The Somerset side sit fourth in the Superleague table but a win at the Thunderdome would open their chances of finishing in the top two at the end of the regular season – and deal Thunder’s a huge blow.
Manchester Thunder v Team Bath, 5pm, The Thunderdome, Wright Robinson Sports College
Match Preview by Denise Evans