Wasps have confirmed that Danny Cipriani will start against Bath in tomorrow night's Premiership match, six weeks before he was expected to return from injury. Cipriani suffered a fracture dislocation of his ankle in a Premiership play-off clash against the same opponents in May and was initially expected to sit out the rest of the year. But after an intensive rehabilitation process, he returned to full contact training last week and Wasps are confident he is ready to start at Adams Park.

Cipriani's return would also be a boost for Martin Johnson's England ahead of the autumn internationals against the Pacific Islanders, Australia, South Africa and New Zealand, but there remains some doubt surrounding his eligibility. He is not part of the 32-man elite England squad, having been selected for the England Saxons squad instead by Johnson, who had not expected him to be available before next year's Six Nations. Technically Johnson is only allowed to promote players to the elite squad in the case of injury, but there may be an allowance made in this case.

Cipriani will replace Jeremy Staunton from the Wasps side that defeated Leicester last Friday night, while his England colleague James Haskell is on replacement duty after completing a one-week suspension.