Up front, Nick Wood and Rupert Harden return at loose head and tight head respectively while Tom Savage replaces the injured Jim Hamilton in the second row.

The visit of the Tigers will be a stern examination of Gloucester's credentials despite Davies' side being unbeaten in seven games, and recent meetings between the two teams at Kingsholm have been close fought encounters.

It's a fact not lost upon Davies, but he insists that it won't be anything new for his team.

"We've had a few of those this season so we're used to them! Leicester are very good at staying strong until the end of matches and grinding out results.

"I'm sure it'll be a tight, tough encounter. We've also gained a lot of experience in the past five or six matches of getting results towards the end of the game, so it should be an exciting fixture which goes right to the death."

The Tigers obviously have a Premiership pedigree that is the envy of many clubs, and Davies that Gloucester will respect them totally but focus primarily on themselves.

"We respect every team we play. It's not about looking for weaknesses, it's about bringing our own game and making sure we're good at what we do."

Gloucester Rugby:

Rob Cook; Charlie Sharples, Mike Tindall (captain), Billy Twelvetrees, James Simpson-Daniel; Freddie Burns, Jimmy Cowan; Nick Wood, Huia Edmonds, Rupert Harden; Tom Savage, Will James; Sione Kalamafoni, Akapusi Qera, Ben Morgan

Replacements:

Koree Britton, Dan Murphy, Shaun Knight, Peter Buxton, Matt Cox, Dan Robson, Martyn Thomas, Shane Monahan