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Bristol boss Richard Hill hopes his selection approach to the busy holiday period will pay off in Wednesday's Guinness Premiership derby against Bath at Ashton Gate.
Hill had one eye on the 21,500 sell-out clash when he rested most of his first team players at Leicester last Friday, and Tigers cruised home 43-15.
Bath though, had the majority of their big guns on show against champions Sale Sharks the same evening, and with recovery time at a premium during the Premiership's hectic four rounds in 17 days schedule over Christmas and new year, Hill's approach could be vindicated.
He said: "I've managed the squad over the past few years realising that sometimes you have to sacrifice one game, but we will see.
"The first teamers were on the bench at Leicester, but they will be fresh for Wednesday.
"Bath had a tough game against Sale and had four days of recovery, but our boys are fresh. We hope in the last 20 minutes at Ashton Gate we should be fresher.
"That's the idea - we will see whether it works or not.
"I don't think any club has a harder Christmas and new year than us with Leicester and Sale away and a local derby. That is a tough run of games."
Bath, beaten at home by Bristol in the Premiership last month, are once again faced by front-row problems after loan signing Jon Dawson lasted less than 15 minutes of his debut against Sale.
Dawson, who fell awkwardly in a tackle, has joined fellow props Matt Stevens, Duncan Bell, David Flatman and Aaron Jarvis on the sidelines, although Bath head coach Steve Meehan recently captured tighthead Terry Sigley from Gloucester in another loan move.
Reflecting on Dawson's injury, Meehan said: "It was unbelievable. He had the ball, ran in, took the tackle, and finished. I would not think he will take any further part at Bath."
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