Gloucester v Dragons: Teams

Gloucester will be without their international stars for their LV= Cup semi-final against the Newport-Gwent Dragons.

Bryan Redpath has been forced into four changes for Sunday's big clash - largely due to the resumption of the RBS Six Nations this weekend.

Rory Lawson, Scott Lawson and Alasdair Strokosch have been named in the Scotland squad for the Calcutta Cup clash with England, who have also retained the services of Mike Tindall and Paul Doran-Jones.

Jodi Pasqualin is one of the beneficiaries and is in for Rory Lawson in the only change to the backs.

The pack is much-changed however, as Olivier Azam replaces Scott Lawson at hooker, Rupert Harden starts at tighthead in place of Doran-Jones and fit-again Alex Brown is back to partner Jim Hamilton in the second row.

Dangerous

"We've had injuries and people coming back and forward but that's the nature of this tournament and this time of the season. We've got to get on with it," said Redpath.

"The key thing is that we understand that it's a semi final. We've got to ignore the past nine weeks and what's gone on and now really focus on this.

"We've played the Dragons a few times over the past couple of seasons and won some and lost some. We have to get our heads around that.

"We underperformed down there on a rainy night in the group stages and can't afford to do that again. It's a big Anglo Welsh derby and our mindset is going to be the key thing."

Meanwhile, Dragons acting head coach Darren Edwards is boosted by the return of lock Luke Charteris who captains the Men of Gwent.

The dangerous back three of Martyn Thomas, Will Harries and Aled Brew are all back having missed last weekend's away game against Munster, with Adam Hughes as cover on the bench.

Half-backs Jason Tovey and Wayne Evans both start, with Matthew Jones and Jonathan Evans in reserve, whilst centres Tom Riley and Pat Leach complete the backline.

Charteris is joined in the second row by Adam Jones, with Adam Brown on the bench. Lloyd Burns starts at hooker, with Steve Jones, who captained the Welsh side in Cork last weekend, as cover.

Promising props Phil Price and Dan Way complete the front row, with Hugh Gustafson and Pat Palmer as replacements.

In the back row, Toby Faletau reverts to his usual position at number eight, with Lewis Evans in the openside position Faletau filled last weekend. Blindside flanker Andrew Coombs completes the starting line-up, with Cross Keys captain Jevon Groves providing support from the bench.

Gloucester: 15 Olly Morgan, 14 Charlie Sharples, 13 Henry Trinder, 12 Eliota Fuimaono-Sapolu, 11 Tom Voyce, 10 Nicky Robinson, 9 Jordi Pasqualin, 8 Luke Narraway (capt), 7 Andy Hazell, 6 Peter Buxton, 5 Alex Brown, 4 Jim Hamilton, 3 Rupert Harden, 2 Olivier Azam, 1 Nick Wood.
Replacements: 16 Darren Dawidiuk, 17 Yann Thomas, 18 Shaun Knight, 19 Will James, 20 Akapusi Qera, 21 Tim Taylor, 22 Freddie Burns, 23 Jonny May

Dragons: 15 Martyn Thomas, 14 Will Harries, 13 Tom Riley, 12 Pat Leach, 11 Aled Brew, 10 Jason Tovey, 9 Wayne Evans, 8 Toby Faletau, 7 Lewis Evans, 6 Andrew Coombs, 5 Adam Jones, 4 Luke Charteris (capt), 3 Dan Way, 2 Lloyd Burns, 1 Phil Price.
Replacements: 16 Steve Jones, 17 Hugh Gustafson, 18 Pat Palmer, 19 Adam Brown, 20 Jevon Groves, 21 Adam Hughes, 22 Jonathan Evans, 23 Matthew Jones.