Sam Underhill ruled OUT of Bath's Gallagher Premiership title bid due to four-week ban for dangerous tackling
Johann van Graan's side are favourites for domestic glory having already won the Premiership Rugby Cup and the European Challenge Cup.
The second of those successes came against Lyon in Cardiff last Friday in a game in which England flanker Underhill was yellow carded for dangerous tackling.
Referee Hollie Davidson somehow failed to send Underhill from the field despite him recklessly colliding head-on-head with Lyon's Georgian back Davit Niniashvili. Instead, Davidson sent Underhill to the sin bin for 10 minutes.
But after the Principality Stadium clash, Underhill was cited and an independent disciplinary panel on Wednesday confirmed a four-week suspension.
It means the tough-tackling back-row won't play again this season, missing his team's home Premiership semi-final a week on Friday.
Underhill would also be unavailable to play in the league's final, if Bath make it that far. It is undoubtedly a big blow to Bath's hopes.
Underhill is a certain starter for head of rugby Van Graan if fit and could also miss the start of England's summer tour of the Americas.
As runaway league leaders, Bath have already secured a home semi-final with one round of the regular Premiership season still to come on Saturday.
Van Graan's side were beaten in last year's final at Twickenham by Northampton Saints, but are in a good position to go one further in this campaign even without Underhill. Guy Pepper is the most likely player to step in for Bath at No 7.
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