Scrum-half Dave Lewis will be rewarded for his game-changing cameo against Newcastle a fortnight ago with his first Guinness Premiership start against Saracens on Sunday (3pm).

The 19-year-old, who is part of Gloucester's Academy set-up, featured prominently from the bench during Gloucester's EDF Energy Cup victory over the Falcons and now gets his first opportunity to start alongside Ryan Lamb at half-back.
He comes in for Welsh international Gareth Cooper, who moves to the bench.

There are other changes too as head coach Dean Ryan is able to welcome back four players from injury and three come back immediately into the starting line-up.

Anthony Allen will make his first appearance since the opening day of the season against Leicester when he returns to the centre following damage to ankle ligaments, Will James comes back into the second row following a torn calf that has kept him out for seven weeks, while full-back Olly Morgan, who has not played since pulling his hamstring against Cardiff in the middle of October, wears the number 15 shirt.

Allen will be partnered by skipper Mike Tindall in the centre, while Morgan will complete a back three alongside Iain Balshaw and Lesley Vainikolo.

"I realised I would be moving up last season when Mike Prendergast left the club and I have just really enjoyed the opportunities in the last couple of games and hope they last a bit longer," Lewis said.

"I understand there are two quality international players in front of me but I have an opportunity and just want to enjoy it. I want to try and get round the pitch and do my basics well and see what happens."

In the forwards, Ryan is able to welcome back two internationals. Alasdair Strokosch has returned from Scotland duty and will start at number eight, while England's Luke Narraway is fit enough following a hamstring injury to return to the bench.

The international period will deprive Ryan of prop Carlos Nieto and lock Marco Bortolami on Italian duty so he has again shuffled his options.

Nick Wood will form a front row alongside hooker Olivier Azam and tight-head prop Jack Forster. It will be Forster's first Guinness Premiership start of the season.

James will return in the second row alongside Alex Brown, while Peter Buxton wears six and Apo Satala seven - also his first Premiership start.

On the bench, prop Dave Young is joined by hooker Scott Lawson, Adam Eustace and Dan Williams.

There is a high-quality feel to Gloucester's three-quarter replacements where Cooper is joined by Olly Barkley and Matthew Watkins, who has not featured since pulling a hamstring against Newcastle in September.

"We have had some clarity over some injuries this week which has been a significant help to us and we have been relaxed and focused on getting back to the style of rugby we played last season," said head coach Dean Ryan.

"I think we got caught up in a number of issues at the start of the season but have worked hard to resolve them and we want to build on what we do well with some confidence.

"Saracens are a very good, well organised side - it is always a significant test against them - but we have just worked hard on aspects of our game to get them right and hope to take them forward into Sunday."

Gloucester (v Saracens, Sunday, 3pm): Olly Morgan; Iain Balshaw, Mike Tindall (capt), Anthony Allen, Lesley Vainikolo; Ryan Lamb, Dave Lewis; Nick Wood, Olivier Azam, Jack Forster, Will James, Alex Brown, Peter Buxton, Apo Satala, Alasdair Strokosch. Reps: Dave Young, Scott Lawson, Adam Eustace, Dan Williams, Gareth Cooper, Olly Barkley, Matthew Watkins.

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