Perry injured his shoulder in the pre-season friendly at Exeter back in August and has since been named among the Bristol replacements on just two occasions. That three-month absence was preceded by a fractured windpipe which kept him out of England's last Six Nations campaign and much of the remainder of the 2007/08 season.

Sunday's match against London Irish at the Memorial Stadium will be a timely return for the 30-year-old who has not been named in either of Martin Johnson's Elite Player squads.

Perry made his international bow this time two years ago but will have to impress significantly over the next few months if he is to persuade Ian McGeechan that he should be given the opportunity to become a Lion in 2009.