Joe Worsley returns to action with Wasps tomorrow knowing he cannot afford to rest on his laurels after a life-changing experience with the Lions.

The England flanker is the first of Wasps' Lions contingent to declare his availability to director of rugby Tony Hanks, and should be ushered straight into the starting line-up for the showdown against Bath at The Rec.

It is more than two months since he was starring for the tourists in Johannesburg in their stunning 28-9 win over South Africa in the Third Test, which came at the end of an impressive tour for the 32-year-old.

Worsley has very fond memories of his first Lions trip but with competition for places so fierce for both club and country this season, he acknowledges that he will have to buckle down immediately.

"I'm looking forward to getting back in the mix," Worsley said.

"It's been nine weeks since that Lions Test - it seems like a lifetime ago. But I've had some good time off, a mini pre-season and I can't wait to get back on the pitch.

"My first Lions tour went well for me and for the squad as a whole, and I enjoyed the experience.

"But now I really have to stay on top of my game - there are so many great back-row forwards in this country at the moment."

Hanks admits he is counting on Worsley at Bath this weekend but Wasps' two other 2009 Lions - lock Simon Shaw and prop Phil Vickery - are not quite ready to return.

"We are easing Shawsy and Vicks back," said Hanks, who revealed club captain Tom Rees is still a couple of weeks away from a return from a shoulder injury.

He added: "We are in a nice position at the moment in that we have players fit and available so we don't have to rush them back in unnecessarily. But Joe is fit and ready."

Wasps began the season last weekend with a 26-15 win over a Harlequins side who played all but the first 46 seconds a man down following the sending-off of George Robson, who mindlessly headbutted Joe Simpson in an off-the-ball incident.

In such a scenario, it is difficult to make an early judgment on Hanks' men although there was some concern they did not impose themselves more, especially up front, given their numerical superiority.

Bath are looking for their first points of the season tomorrow after they were dismissed 24-5 by west country rivals Gloucester.

Their chief problem at Kingsholm last Sunday was their lack of control at fly-half, with youngster Ryan Davis missing his place kicks and struggling with his game-management throughout the clash.

It is that area where Wasps, and in particular No10 Danny Cipriani, will look to make hay.

Cipriani, who has been freed from the goalkicking burden by Hanks, showed glimpses of his undoubted talent against Quins, when he layed on Tom Varndell's first try with a superb offload in the tackle.

And Hanks envisages seeing a gradual improvement in his fit-again star fly-half this season.

"We have worked hard getting him ready physically, with his speed and conditioning and contact," said the New Zealander.