Gloucester fear a second cup exit in two weeks

Gloucester will seek to end the toughest week of coach Nigel Melville's tenure with a morale-boosting Powergen Cup win over Saracens.

The Cherry-and-whites have spent the week licking the wounds of their Heineken Cup mauling by Munster.

Melville admits that 33-6 thrashing has given him the hardest time of his near-year at the Kingsholm helm.

And he is demanding his players recapture the form they enjoyed before their Thomond Park humbling to reach the semi-finals of the Powergen Cup.

"We have to take into this competition the lessons we have learned from our time in Europe and try to replicate some of the intensity we have shown this year," he said.

Melville is able to recall forwards Chris Fortey and James Forrester to his 23-man squad after injury.

We've performed only moderately in the league, so we're looking at the cup competitions for some success Kyran Bracken Saracens captain

But wing Marcel Garvey, who missed the Munster match with hamstring trouble, is ruled out again.

Saracens face a daunting task at Kingsholm, but captain Kyran Bracken knows both he and his team have something to prove.

The Vicarage Road side have not lifted a trophy since winning this competition in 1998, while Bracken has been dropped from the England squad this term.

On Saturday, he will face the man who has replaced him in the international pecking order, resurgent Gloucester scrum-half Andy Gomarsall.

Kyran Bracken faces England rival Gomarsall

Bracken said: "Every team wants to win some silverware and there's always high expectations about this club because of the players we sign.

"We've performed only moderately in the league, so we're looking at the cup competitions for some success."

Saracens' prospects have not been improved by the loss of Thomas Castaignede with a groin injury, while Andy Goode also misses out with a similar problem.

The promising Adrian Winnan replaces Castaignede at full-back and Goode's absence allows Fiji stand-off Nicky Little to complete his recovery from a broken arm.

Scottish hooker Robbie Russell is another to make his comeback after summer surgery, while coach Wayne Shelford's decision to bring Ben Russell into the back row leaves England star Richard Hill on the bench.

Gloucester (from): Amor, Beim, Delport, Fanolua, Gomarsall, Mercier, Paul, Simpson-Daniel, Stuart-Smith, Todd, Azam, Boer, Buxton, Cornwell, Deacon, Eustace, Fidler, Forrester, Fortey, Hazell, Paramore, Roncero, Vickery (capt).

Saracens: Winnan; Shanklin, Johnston, Horan, O'Mahony; Little, Bracken (capt); Califano, Russell, Storey, Hooper, Yandell, Russell, Roques, Chesney.
Replacements: Marsters, Parkes, Skirving, Hill, Kirton, Haughton, Sparg.