Burgess started training with his team-mates only last week after fracturing his eye-socket and cheekbone in his last game for South Sydney in the NRL Grand Final in October. It was originally thought that he would have to wait until mid-December to make his first appearance, most likely in the LV Cup against either Gloucester or Exeter. But Mike Ford, the Bath director of rugby, revealed that Burgess had been so impressive in training that he may take his place on the bench against Harlequins.