Lewis Moody believes Bath Rugby's taste for silverware could be reignited in the LV= Cup this season ahead of their semi-final against West Country rivals Exeter Chiefs on Sunday (1pm).
Bath have been in dominant form of late and their 23-10 Aviva Premiership loss to Saracens last Friday was their first defeat at home all season.
The current crop are hoping to recapture the form of the Bath of old. They reigned supreme over domestic rugby for more than a decade and former England captain Moody thinks they can cap their renaissance by landing the first trophy of the season.
Mike Ford's side have put Exeter to the sword three times already this term and Moody, who finished his career with a two-year stint at Bath, says Chiefs face a monumental task in stopping their West Country rivals at The Rec this weekend.
"It's a far cry from where they were a few years ago, Mike Ford and his staff have really brought the tenacity and belief in their own ability back," said 35-year-old Moody.
"Now I think they're returning somewhere near to the dominance they had in the late 80s and early 90s with their power up front.
"And even better, they're getting the ball into the backs' hands, linking through Peter Stringer and George Ford, who for me has been player of the season.
"It's the clash of the weekend – I may be slightly biased of course as an ex-player and I still have mates down there as well, but playing the way they are doing at home in particular I'll back them by 15 points, 25-10."
The carrot for the Chiefs is a final at Sandy Park and a chance to end their ten-game winless streak against Bath since promotion in 2010.
And Moody points to converted hooker Luke Cowan-Dickie – who has made his mark in this year's LV= Cup including two tries in a 36-22 romp of Ospreys – as one to watch.
"My money is certainly on Bath but there's added incentive there for Exeter, with the final being at Sandy Park that would be a massive advantage for them to take it all the way," added Moody.
"The trouble for the Chiefs is their recent record against them and I will not sure if they can break it at The Rec.
"As a back-row there are certain areas of the game I look for in my forwards and the hunger and tenacity Luke Cowan-Dickie has shown so far has been tremendous.
"You need that trying to adapt to a different position, in this case from prop to hooker and you will see a lot more of him in the near future."
