Bristol will target their third successive Guinness Premiership victory on Sunday - and dent Harlequins' title play-off ambitions in the process.

Quins arrive at the Memorial Stadium knowing they can move into the top four by avoiding defeat.

But Bristol, buoyed by the return of several key players from injury, intend following up wins against Leeds Carnegie and Newcastle by claiming another scalp.

Bristol are currently 12 points outside the play-off places, yet assistant coach Paul Hull believes the squad is well-equipped to mount a strong finish to their domestic campaign.

He said: "Shaun Perry, Dan Ward-Smith, Neil Brew, Tom Arscott and Nathan Budgett are all back in the picture now, which freshens things up and gives us the option to rest a few.

"And those guys are hungry to play because they haven't played for weeks.

"That has given us a really big lift, and hopefully the impetus to go and make it three wins from three.

"The atmosphere has been helped by having those key individuals coming back in.

"They want to keep training standards high, so when people were feeling a bit tired, these guys have come back and brought up the energy levels."

Bristol head coach Richard Hill has made five changes from the side that thumped Newcastle 28-8 at Kingston Park last weekend.

Neil Brew replaces Llanelli Scarlets-bound centre Rob Higgitt in midfield, while one other switch behind the scrum sees wing David Lemi starting instead of Anthony Elliott, who is on England sevens duty.

Up-front, Hill hands starts to Budgett, prop Alex Clarke and flanker Andrew Blowers, but England World Cup hooker Mark Regan is again on bench duty, unable to dislodge New Zealander Scott Linklater.

Bristol beat Harlequins twice in the Heineken Cup pool stage before Christmas, yet Quins' recent form - they have accounted for Gloucester, Bath, Saracens and Worcester - makes them tough opponents.

Hull added: "Dean Richards (Quins rugby director) has got a good squad there, and he has them playing well.

"They have good physicality and they play hard, something he has brought to Harlequins from Leicester.

"They started well this season, but then had a little blip, which was when we played them in the Heineken Cup. But now they are coming back to form, and it is going to be an interesting battle."

Richards, meanwhile, makes just two changes following an impressive victory over Bath six days ago.

Injury sidelines Ugo Monye from centre duties, so Wales international Hal Luscombe partners De Wet Barry in midfield, and former Bristol lock Ollie Kohn replaces a rested James Percival.

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