BILLY Twelvetrees has urged his Cherry and White team-mates to fight fire with fire in Gloucester's Premiership clash with Exeter Chiefs on Saturday.
The England centre returns to captain Nigel Davies' men at Sandy Park and has issued a rallying call to his troops
Exeter scalped Gloucester during the last West Country derby between the sides and Twelvetrees is under no illusions that the visitors will have to muscle up to deliver in Devon.
He said: "Exeter play some good rugby and obviously beat us at Kingsholm, so we have something to motivate us going down there.
"Both teams want to play a good brand of rugby and if we want to be in the top six at the end of the season we have to win games like this.
"It's going to be a gain-line battle, you have to physically front up, go toe-to-toe and just really go for it.
"We have to win the contest at the breakdown, really go at them in defence and take it to them in attack.
"It all starts up front and we have to turn up. We have to get on the front foot to give the ball to the boys out wide."
Twelvetrees missed last week's bonus-point victory over Newcastle Falcons due to a knee infection but he is relishing his return to Cherry and White following his Six Nations heroics and has vowed to lead by example.
He said: "The knee is absolutely fine, I'm ready to go and looking forward to being back in a Gloucester shirt.
"You look forward to getting back to your club, it's where you feel most comfortable and I was looking forward to seeing the boys and getting back into training.
"It was a bit sore last week but I have rested up and rehabbed and now I'm looking forward to getting back out on the field.
"I will do what I always do and play as hard as I can and to the best of my ability for the team and to put boys in the right positions. I try to lead by example, I absolutely relish the opportunity and love captaining the boys here – it's a great honour."
Twelvetrees is just one of five changes to the Gloucester side, with fellow Red Rose stars Ben Morgan and Jonny May also handed starting spots, having come off the bench against the Falcons.
Elsewhere Jimmy Cowan and Will James come in for injured duo Dan Robson and James Hudson, while Lua Lokotui returns to the bench, having recovered from the pectoral injury he suffered in November.
Just two points separate the two teams in the league table and a win would see Gloucester move towards the all-important seventh position which is set to come with a play-off for the final qualifying spot for next season's top-tier European competition.
Exeter have been dealt a blow ahead of the encounter with the loss of England star Jack Nowell to the shoulder injury he sustained in the club's heavy defeat to Leicester Tigers. Ben White also misses out through injury and is replaced by Cheltenham-born Tom Johnson.
Twelvetrees admits the loss of Nowell is a boost to Gloucester's chances but insists they have other threats all over the field.
He added: "He's a very talented player, he's extremely powerful, has great foot-work and a great mind for the game which is very important and makes you stand out.
"But their whole team is a big threat, they use the ball very well and look to create phases to break teams down.
"But it's all about us and how we can nullify that and get the ball in our hands."
Exeter: Luke Arscott; Fetu'u Vainikolo, Ian Whitten, Phil Dollman, Matt Jess; Henry Slade, Dave Lewis; Ben Moon, Jack Yeandle, Hoani Tui; Dean Mumm (Capt.), Damian Welch; Dave Ewers, Tom Johnson, Kai Horstmann. Replacements: Luke Cowan-Dickie, Carl Rimmer, Alex Brown, Don Armand, James Scaysbrook, Haydn Thomas, Gareth Steenson, Sam Hill.
Gloucester Rugby: Rob Cook; Charlie Sharples, Mike Tindall, Billy Twelvetrees (capt), Jonny May; Ryan Mills, Jimmy Cowan; Nick Wood, Darren Dawidiuk, Shaun Knight, Elliott Stooke, Will James, Sione Kalamafoni, Matt Kvesic, Ben Morgan. Replacements: Koree Britton, Yann Thomas, Sila Puafisi, Lua Lokotui, Gareth Evans, Tavis Knoyle, Freddie Burns, Henry Trinder.
