NIGEL MELVILLE, Wasps' rugby director, believes that Va'aiga Tuigamala will prove a more influential centre than Bath's Henry Paul in the personal contest between the two rugby league recruits that tops the bill in the main match of the Courage League today.
Centres Tuigamala and Paul make their League debuts, along, with another Wigan RL superstars Jason Robinson, who plays outside Paul on the champions' wing.
"Inga has the priceless asset of having played union less than three years ago, though he seldom played centre," said Melville.
"He has settled back with impressive comfort and it is noticeable how his handling has improved since his All Black days.
"We won't just be sending him banging at Paul and Jeremy Guscott. We have a full range of plans for him.
"In fact, the whole team is going for broke. It's the only way, as they so seldom lose at home. It's no use just trying to stop Bath as a sole option." Melville was interested to note that Paul was frequently unfamiliar with the differing defensive alignments in union, although he still revealed dazzling attacking qualities on his debut in the mid week Anglo Welsh Cup.
But Bath's coach Brian Ashton is totally relaxed about introducing the two newcomers to the sport, even to the exclusion of captain Phil de Glanville and giving the responsibility of supervising the double debuts of Paul and Robinson to first time leader Guscott.
"Our selection, like our approach, has been positive," said Ashton. "The newcomers will help our ambitions of taking the style onto a higher plane.
"It should be possible. The players are managing near ideal preparations and they have big financial incentives to be individually successful and play in a winning team that is attractive to the public.
League One has for nine seasons been the equivalent of the Central Office of the Tory party. As pace setters of most things in the League, we aim to make rugby more radical in the future.
Wasps struck a psychological blow 24 hours before the match when they signed Bath's former Scotland and Lions lock Andy Reed, who was not on a contract with the champions.
Bath are one defeat down after losing to a penalty try at Leicester and cannot afford a second defeat.
Harlequins and Bristol are the early leaders and should stay there this weekend. Both have taken advantage of being steered away from the top teams in the opening fixtures and Harlequins do not face any of last season's other trio from the top four until December.
Harlequins rugby director Dick Best said: "Facing London Irish is our toughest test yet, but I expect us to there or thereabouts in the New Year and then it's just a case of keeping the concentrating going.
"We used to fall down in that respect, but there will be no excuses now that they are all pros.
"They know that reaching the first four is essential for the important revenue for club and player." Harlequins make it a quartet of Wigan debutants in the League when Gary Connolly teams up with Will Carling at centre.
London Irish will field the side which beat Northampton last week. Fly half David Humphreys has recovered from the minor injuries he sustained while playing for the Irish XV last Sunday. Rob Henderson and Malcolm O'Kelly will both travel immediately after the match to Dublin to play in the second Irish warm up match.
Bristol have their second game against a promoted side - having beaten London Irish, they now face Northampton - and rugby director Alan Davies acknowledges that a few wins against other mid table sides and struggling teams are Bristol's speciality.
