Bath Rugby have confirmed that new signing Dan du Preez will miss the club’s next two PREM matches, the away trip to Gloucester this Friday and the clash at home to his former club Sale on Saturday 31 October.

Du Preez, who has had a solid enough start to his Bath career following a close-season move, injured his hamstring in training ahead of last weekend’s defeat to Montpellier in the Investec Champions Cup.

The 31-year-old has scored tries in each of his two appearances to date, against Harlequins and Exeter, in rounds one and two.

With Sam Underhill out until at least December with a bicep injury and Miles Reid forced to miss the Montpellier match due to concussion, Bath have had to dig into their admittedly deep back row reserves.

However, Reid, who led Bath in the 71-48 defeat to Northampton before his 150th club appearance came to a premature end, is back in the reckoning for Friday’s West Country derby.

Bath’s resolve will be tested by a resurgent Gloucester and having a body-on-the-line player like Reid available can only be good news for what should be a ding-dong clash.

An injury update released by the club on behalf of the club’s head of medical services, Rory Murray, said: ‘Miles Reid is nearing completion of his return-to-play protocol following concussion and is expected to be available this weekend.’

Meanwhile, back three players, Will Muir, Henry Arundell and Tom de Glanville, have resumed elements of training, with their availability assessed on a week-by-week basis.

Billy Sela will return late November following a pre-season foot injury, while fellow prop Jamie Bhatti is targeting a return in the New Year following biceps and forearm surgery, respectively.

Thompson Cowan remains on track to return during the Autumn Prem Cup block, which begins away to Exeter on 7 November.