World Cup winner Butch James has handed Bath an injury scare during the final push for Guinness Premiership play-off places.

James limped out of Bath’s vital 15-14 victory at Newcastle that kept them firmly in the play-off picture.

And the South African fly-half faces a scan on his knee that could decide whether or not he plays any part in next Saturday’s home game against Saracens.

A five-point maximum for Bath at the Recreation Ground could be enough to secure a home semi-final next month, although Saracens are still chasing seventh place and possible Heineken Cup qualification.

Bath head coach Steve Meehan acclaimed his “brilliant” players after they fought back from a 14-point interval deficit to ground the Falcons, helped by tries from Shontayne Hape and Michael Claassens.

Meehan said: “I thought it was a great exercise in character and belief, and being able to switch things around at half-time.

“We recognised what we weren’t doing well and changed. The players were brilliant.

“The guys worked through not an ideal first half and they left it all to do in the last 40 minutes. So I thought it was a tremendous example of what we are capable of.

“The objective is to win next week and, if we win and win well enough, to get the home semi-final would be terrific.”

Leaders Leicester need a point from their final game at home to already-relegated Bristol to guarantee top spot and a home semi-final.

Tigers grafted for a 16-13 success at Saracens and the play-offs now beckon next month - six days after a Heineken Cup semi-final against Cardiff Blues.

Sam Vesty’s last-gasp penalty gave Leicester a tense verdict at Vicarage Road, and head coach Richard

Cockerill said: “We kept playing right to the death - there was a huge commitment there.

“A draw was probably a fair result, all things considered, but you will take them when they come.”

“I thought the performance was quite poor really but, after the emotion of last week (Heineken quarter-final win against Bath), it was a tough game.

“That little bit of edge we had last week wasn’t quite with us but it was understandable.

“We want to finish top. That would be nice - a home draw and to get to the final.”

Wasps, meanwhile, claimed their first five-point maximum of the Premiership season by sinking Memorial Stadium hosts Bristol 36-18.

Scrum-half Joe Simpson’s try double, plus touchdowns from Josh Lewsey, Serge Betsen and Danny Cipriani, who also kicked 11 points, kept Wasps in the hunt for seventh spot and a possible Heineken place.

There was a double injury blow for the visitors, though, who lost England internationals Tom Rees (shoulder) and Paul Sackey (leg) during the first half.

“A couple of scores either side of half-time knocked the stuffing out of us,” admitted Bristol head coach Paul Hull, who expects to announce three new signings later this week.

One player departing the west country, though, could be Bristol’s prolific try-scoring Samoan wing David Lemi, who has been linked with a possible move to Welsh region the Scarlets.