Finn Russell misses third straight game as Bath name side for Exeter semi-final

Finn Russell will sit out a third consecutive match for Bath after failing to recover from a calf injury in time for Saturday’s Premiership play-off semi-final against Exeter at The Recreation Ground.

The Scotland and Lions fly-half missed Bath’s final two regular-season fixtures — a defeat away to Exeter and a narrow 24-22 home win over Leicester — and his absence continues to leave Bath looking one-dimensional in attack. Guy Pepper is also unavailable, adding to the selection concerns for head coach Johann van Graan.

Summer signing Santi Carreras is handed another start at ten, with captain Ben Spencer alongside him at scrum-half. Spencer will lead the side out at The Rec for the final time this season.

Max Ojomoh marks a century of appearances for his hometown club, while Van Graan has kept faith with Ollie Lawrence in an all-England midfield partnership. The back three is unchanged from the Leicester victory, with Henry Arundell and Joe Cokanasiga on the wings and Tom de Glanville at full-back.

In the pack, suspended duo Tom Dunn and Quinn Roux return. Dunn is the sole change to the front row, lining up alongside props Beno Obano and Thomas du Toit, while Roux partners Charlie Ewels in the second row. Josh Bayliss starts at blindside, Sam Underhill at openside, and Alfie Barbeary carries the No.8 shirt in a back row built for pace and physicality.

Bernard van der Linde, returning after six weeks out with an ankle injury, provides cover for Spencer from the bench.

Elsewhere in the semi-finals, fourth-placed Leicester travel to table-topping Northampton on Friday night.