Sunday 7 December 2014 10:15, UK
Gloucester and Zebre have impressed in the opening rounds of the European Rugby Challenge Cup but their inconsistency leaves this game wide open.
It is hard to judge whether this will be a points-festival or a stalemate between two solid defences. Gloucester boast both the highest-points scorer and highest try-scorer in the Challenge Cup so far this season.
Greig Laidlaw's 32 points and three tries from Charlie Sharples have helped the Cherry & Whites to victories over French pair Brive and Oyonnax. They have never lost to Italian opposition and last week moved up to ninth in the Aviva Premiership thanks to victory over London Irish.
But maintaining that winning feeling has proved difficult for David Humphreys' side who have yet to string together more than two wins.
Zebre similarly warmed up for a return to Europe with victory, 18-10 over Edinburgh, that lifted them to 10th in the Guinness Pro12. Their defence has also proved remarkably efficient in the tackle area having conceded the fewest turnovers of any team in the tournament.
And in fly-half Edoardo Padovani, they also possess the second highest-points scorer in the cup with 25 points.
Zebre also have plenty of inside knowledge of Kingsholm with three of their team, Dario Christolini, Tommaso D'Apice and veteran Marco Bortolami all having had spells with Gloucester. Former Italy lock Bortolami captained the West Country side during a four-year spell.
Gloucester: 15 Stevie McColl; 14 Charlie Sharples, 13 Henry Purdy, 12 Billy Twelvetrees, 11 Shane Monahan; 10 James Hook, 9 Greig Laidlaw (capt); 1 Yann Thomas, 2 Aleki Lutui, 3 John Afoa; 4 Tom Savage, 5 Tom Palmer; 6 Sione Kalafamoni, 7 Matt Kvesic, 8 Gareth Evans
Replacements: 16 Darren Dawiduik, 17 Shaun Knight, 18 Sila Puafisi, 19 Elliot Stooke, 20 Ross Moriarty, 21 Callum Braley, 22 Billy Burns, 23 Mark Atkinson
Zebre: 15 Hennie Daniller; 14 Giambattista Venditti, 13 Mirco Bergamasco, 12 Matteo Pratichetti, 11 Michele Visentin; 10 Luciano Orquera, 9 Gullo Palazzani; 1 Andrea Lovotti, 2 Andrea Manici, 3 Dario Chistolini; 4 George Biagi, 5 Marco Bortolami (capt); 6 Jacopo Sarto, 7 Filippo Cristiano, 8 Dries van Schalkwyk
Replacements: 16 Oliviero Fabiani, 17 Andrea de Marchi, 18 Lorenzo Romano, 19 Samu Vunisa, 20 Valerio Bernabo, 21 Brendon Leonard, 22 David Odiete, 23 Kelly Haimona
Edinburgh can strengthen their grip on Pool 4 with a home win over bottom club London Welsh.
After a defeat to Zebre in the PRO12 in their last outing, Alan Solomons' side will be looking to get their season back on track with a third straight victory in the Challenge Cup.
They stormed to the top of pool four with back-to-back wins over Bordeaux-Begles in rounds one and two.
In stark contrast the Exiles are without a point in the competition so far this season as they prepare to make the long journey to Murrayfield.
They are desperately looking for a result to kick-start their season, which also sees them rock-bottom of the Aviva Premiership after 12 rounds.
Edinburgh: 15 Nick McLennan; 14 Dougie Fife, 13 Matt Scott, 12 Andries Strauss, 11 Tim Visser; 10 Tom Heathcote, 9 Grayson Hart; 1 Rory Sutherland, 2 James Hilterbrand, 3 WP Nel; 4 Ollie Atkins, 5 Ben Toolis; 6 Tomas Leonardi, 7 Roddy Grant, 8 Mike Coman (capt)
Replacements: 16 Neil Cochrane, 17 Grant Shiells, 18 John Andress, 19 Anton Bresler, 20 Stuart McInally, 21 Sam Hidalgo-Clyne, 22 Greig Tonks, 23 Sam Beard
London Welsh: 15 Elliot Kear; 14 Rhys Crane, 13 Nick Reynolds, 12 Alan Awcock, 11 Chris Elder; 10 Gordon Ross (capt), 9 Paul Rowley; 1 Eddie Aholelei, 2 Nathan Vella, 3 Ben Cooper; 4 Josh McNally, 5 Matt Corker; 6 Benjamin West, 7 Carl Kirwin, 8 Ben Pienaar
Replacements: 16 Nathan Morris, 17 Shane Cahill, 18 Jack Gilding, 19 Daniel Browne, 20 Lachlan McCaffrey, 21 Rob Lewis, 22 Nick Scott, 23 Tom May
