Vainikolo ruled out

Gloucester winger Lesley Vainikolo is out of Saturday's match against Wasps due to a knee injury.

Vainikolo hurt his left knee during last weekend's Heineken Cup fixture against Ulster and is being rested as a precaution.

The problem is not serious and appears unlikely to jeopardise his prospects of an England debut in the RBS Six Nations opener against Wales on February 2.

"Les took a bang to the knee last week and although the injury is not that serious it will prevent him playing against Wasps," Gloucester head coach Dean Ryan told the club's official website.

"It's not a long-term issue and he will link up with England as planned. It is obviously a significant blow to us but we are not going to take risks with a player like Les.

"In a season of this length and intensity you pick up injuries - we just have to manage that."

The Guinness Premiership leaders are also without locks Alex Brown (arm) and Marco Bortolami (eye socket). In their absence, Peter Buxton and Will James are paired in the second-row.

Better news is the return of flanker Andy Hazell for his first appearance since November following a knee injury. He is selected on the openside in place of Akapusi Qera, who is out due to a septic cut on his hand.

In the back division, Iain Balshaw switches to the wing to cover for Vainokolo and Willie Walker comes into the XV at full-back.

Anthony Allen drops to the bench to accomodate James Simpson-Daniel alongside Mike Tindall in the centres. Simpson-Daniel's place on the wing is taken by James Bailey.

Injury problems

Wasps are without four current internationals for the trip to Kingsholm.

England trio Paul Sackey (illness), Simon Shaw (ankle) and Joe Worsley (neck) are all sidelined along with Irishman Eoin Reddan (thigh).

Former France captain Rapahel Ibanez is also missing as he begins a four-week ban for stamping.

Mark McMillan replaces Reddan at scrum-half, while Dominic Waldouck switches from the wing to partner Fraser Waters in the centres.

The back-three consists of Rob Hoadley and David Doherty on the flanks and Josh Lewsey at full-back.

In the pack, Joe Ward replaces Ibanez at hooker and Tom Palmer comes into the second-row alongside George Skivington.

Gloucester: 15 Willie Walker, 14 Iain Balshaw, 13 James Simpson-Daniel, 12 Mike Tindall, 11 James Bailey, 10 Ryan Lamb, 9 Rory Lawson; 1 Nick Wood, 2 Olivier Azam, 3 Carlos Nieto, 4 Peter Buxton (capt), 5 Will James, 6 Luke Narraway, 7 Andy Hazell, 8 Gareth Delve
Replacements: 16 Jeremy Paul, 17 Patrice Collazo, 18 Dan Tuohy, 19 Alasdair Strokosch, 20 Gareth Cooper, 21 Anthony Allen, 22 Mark Foster

Wasps: 15 Josh Lewsey, 14 Rob Hoadley, 13 Fraser Waters, 12 Dominic Waldouck, 11 David Doherty, 10 Danny Cipriani, 9 Mark McMillan; 1 Tim Payne, 2 Joe Ward, 3 Phil Vickery, 4 Tom Palmer, 5 George Skivington, 6 James Haskell, 7 Tom Rees, 8 Lawrence Dallaglio (capt)
Replacements: 16 James Buckland, 17 Nick Adams, 18 Richard Birkett, 19 John Hart, 20 Dan Leo, 21 Simon Amor, 22 Dave Walder