Mako Vunipola eyes return at Bath

4:16 PM BST

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  ESPN staff

England and British & Irish Lions front row Mako Vunipola hopes to make his Saracens return against Bath this weekend in the Aviva Premiership.

Vunipola, Owen Farrell and Jamie George missed the 55-24 drubbing of Northampton Saints on the opening day, but director of rugby Mark McCall hinted at the involvement of at least some of his Lions players at Bath and Vunipola is raring to go.

"Over the summer I've tried to rest mentally more than physically, get away with family and friends and have a good time away from rugby so I can come into this now ready to go," Vunipola told the official Saracens website.

"They are very physical in defence. As a pack of forwards, they lead from the front and we know what kind of challenge they pose to us."

Having excelled last season as Sarries claimed European glory and during the Lions' drawn series against the All Blacks, Vunipola is eager to make a return to McCall's side against a Bath side that opened up the new season with victory at Leicester Tigers.

"We have to stand up to that. They've always had good players on the ball, always been renowned for being good tacklers," said Vunipola. "At the weekend, our attack was very free flowing, everyone was doing their bit, reacted to where they were needed.

"But every week you have to take it as a new game and a new slate, so we can't go in with the mindset that it's going to happen again. It's up to us to try and get that same speed of ball for the backs and step up our physicality in defence."

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Mako Vunipola eyes return at Bath