Bath head of rugby Johann van Graan remained tight-lipped over the availability of mercurial fly-half Finn Russell for Saturday’s titanic clash with old rivals Leicester Tigers at the Recreation Ground.

Van Graan confirmed on Friday night, following his side’s 21-19 defeat away at Bristol Bears, that Scotland star Russell missed that game after being pulled out of training with a tight calf, and he revealed he was doubtful for Leicester, putting either Argentina international Santi Carreras or Ciaran Donoghue in line to wear 10 at the weekend.

Asked for an update on Russell in his midweek press conference, van Graan said:

“The update is we’ll make a call later in the week, and I think from a squad update, we took a few knocks and bruises against Bristol, but there is nothing else that I’d like to share at this stage.”

The South African was willing to provide clarity on the availability of two key forwards in his pack, though, with Irish international lock and England hooker Tom Dunn both currently serving suspensions.

There was some ambiguity around Roux’s suspension due to the two-match ban not kicking in until he had passed his HIA tests and was available for selection again. Van Graan said:

“So both Quinn and Tom are available for the semi-final.“Quinn was cleared through the HIA process, he’s done everything needed as per the citing [attended World Rugby’s ‘tackle school’], and both he and Tom Dunn are now available to play next weekend in the semi-final.”

Elsewhere in the squad, scrum-half Bernard van der Linde has made a rapid recovery from surgery on his ankle and is back in contention to feature in the closing weekends of the season.

Van Graan said:

“He’s tracking very well. He had a full training session out there today. So, he’s available for selection. “If you look at the start he’s made in that Northampton game when he got injured, he was fantastic. But similarly, Tom Carr-Smith, I think that was his best game for Bath, and I think Carr-Smith has done incredibly well when he’s come off the bench for us, so a few decisions still to make before the team announcement tomorrow at 12 o’clock.”

Bernard van der Linde of Bath Rugby breaks with the ball (Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)