Preview: Gloucester v Harlequins
Gloucester are still without their England U20 and Scotland contingent but do welcome back some Saxons for Saturday's visit of Harlequins.
Gloucester are still without their England U20 and Scotland contingent but do welcome back some Saxons for Saturday's visit of Harlequins.
Bryan Redpath's side clinched a notable 31-29 win at the Stoop over the same opposition only last week but players returning from international duties could result in two very different looking line-ups in action this weekend.
Gloucester see Olly Morgan, Eliota Fuimaono-Sapolu and Nicky Robinson return at full-back, inside centre and fly-half respectively with Lesley Vainikolo reverting to his usual slot on the wing.
In the pack, only Luke Narraway started last weekend at the Stoop and he moves to the blindside flank from number eight.
It was put to Head Coach Redpath at the midweek media session that Gloucester's win last weekend may give them a mental edge but the former Scottish international was playing that down.
“We've an opportunity to move up the table but it will only happen if we work hard and not because of what happened last weekend. It's a different game and back to the Premiership,” he said.
“Quins are not a bad side either. We have to get our heads around that. I'm not bothered about last weekend, it's about the next game.
“It's at Kingsholm and it's against a side who we know can challenge us and can beat us. They've some dangerous players and we have to be ready for that.
“We have to bring our best game on Saturday as we're one game away from sixth place and we've got to get that win.”
Meanwhile, Harlequins will be looking to get back to winning ways when they take on last week's rivals once again, but this time they will have to make the journey to Kingsholm.
Last Sunday, Quins saw the game slip from their fingers in the dying seconds but they will be determined to put their Heineken Cup and LV= Cup woes behind them and focus fully on climbing their way back up the Guinness Premiership table and into Heineken Cup contention.
John Kingston's squad has been boosted by the return of England Saxons double-try scoring winger, David Strettle, England U20 stars, Rory Clegg and Sam Smith, along with Gonzalo Tiesi who was unfit to compete last Sunday.
With the return of Tiesi to partner their newest re-signing, Jordan Turner-Hall, in the centres, George Lowe moves out to join Strettle on the wing.
Nick Evans, who once again showed his world-class status, retains the fly-half jersey, along with Mike Brown who, with the absence of Will Skinner, captains the side for the third week running.
In the forwards the only changes are made in the front row where Chris Brooker and James Johnston link with Ceri Jones while Matt Cairns and John Andress move to the bench.
Form: The same two teams meet for the second successive week as they also played at the Twickenham Stoop in the LV= Cup, where Gloucester won a thriller 31-29. Gloucester are now unbeaten in their last five matches in all competitions since their 8-24 reversal at Bath in the Guinness Premiership on 27 December. Gloucester have not lost at Kingsholm since the visit of Cardiff Blues in the LV= Cup on 8 November. Harlequins' only victory in their last eight encounters was 16-13 at London Irish in the Anglo-Welsh Cup on 31 January. The Londoners most recent win in England was 30-27 at Leeds Carnegie on 4 December. Harlequins have won three of their last four matches with Gloucester in the Guinness Premiership including a 35-29 victory at the Stoop on 28 November.
The teams:
Gloucester: 15 Olly Morgan, 14 James Simpson-Daniel, 13 Tim Molenaar, 12 Eliota Fuimaono-Sapolu, 11 Lesley Vainikolo, 10 Nicky Robinson, 9 Dave Lewis, 8 Gareth Delve (capt), 7 Akapusi Qera, 6 Luke Narraway, 5 Alex Brown, 4 Dave Attwood, 3 Greg Somerville, 2 Olivier Azam, 1 Nick Wood.
Replacements: 16 Darren Dawidiuk, 17 Paul Doran-Jones, 18 Pierre Capdevielle, 19 Adam Eustace, 20 Andrew Hazell, 21 Rory Lawson, 22 Tim Taylor, 23 Tom Voyce.
Harlequins: 15 Mike Brown (capt), 14 David Strettle, 13 Gonzalo Tiesi, 12 Jordan Turner-Hall, 11 George Lowe, 10 Nick Evans, 9 Karl Dickson, 8 Tom Guest, 7 Neil McMillan, 6 Chris York, 5 Lewis Stevenson, 4 James Percival, 3 James Johnston, 2 Chris Brooker, 1 Ceri Jones.
Replacements: 16 Aston Croall, 17 Matt Cairns, 18 John Andress, 19 Tomas Vallejos, 20 Luke Wallace, 21 Steve So'oialo, 22 Rory Clegg, 23 Sam Smith.
Date: Saturday, February 13
Kick-off: 15:00
Venue: Kingsholm
Referee: David Rose