Burns Dropped

Freddie Burns has been relegated to the bench and Billy Twelvetrees moved to fly half in the side which can effectively doom Worcester to the drop on Sunday ....

Burns has admitted his head is elsewhere - mainly thanks to the various options facing him when his contract runs out at the end of the season. It's shown in his game and it's no surprise he is demoted.

Nick Wood returns at loose head prop and Sila Puafisi makes his first start at tight head as we look to get some power back in the pack.

Wuss have yet to win a game, but Nigel Davies is aware of the importance of this fixture to our neighbours.

He has said: "It's going to be a difficult encounter for us because you look at Worcester, and how they've played, and they've been in games for long periods before falling away late.

"But they'll have worked on that. They'll be a tough nut to crack, and we have to be in the right frame of mind, which means not just being physically ready for the challenge but also being prepared to play  our style of rugby.

Gloucester: Rob Cook, Charlie Sharples, Henry Trinder, Mike Tindall, Jonny May, Billy Twelvetrees (capt), Jimmy Cowan, Nick Wood, Darren Dawidiuk, Sila Puafisi, Elliott Stooke, James Hudson, Matt Cox, Matt Kvesic, Ben Morgan

Reps: Huia Edmonds, Yann Thomas, Shaun Knight, Tom Hicks, Akapusi Qera, Dan Robson, Freddie Burns, Martyn Thomas

The Warriors recall Chris Pennell and Alex Grove in the backs and there are a number of changes in the pack. Ofa Fainga'anuku, Chris Brooker and Rob O'Donnell return in the front row, while James Percival and Mariano Galarza are recalled to the second row.

Worcester: Pennell, Stephenson, Grove, Fatiaki, Drauniniu; Mieres, Su'a, Fainga'anuku, Brooker, O'Donnell, Percival, Galarza, de Carpentier, Betty, Thomas.

Reps: Shervington, Becasseau, Andress, Jones, Senatore, Hodgson, Warwick, Symons.