Gloucester keep faith with the majority of the side that triumphed in La Rochelle last weekend, making just one change for Sunday’s Aviva Premiership fixture at Bath.

Despite the physical encounter in France, the Cherry and Whites came through the game pretty much unscathed and, with just two league games left to play, make only one change to the starting line-up, Mariano Galarza coming in for Tom Savage in the second row.

The only other new face in the matchday 23 is that of Ciaran Knight, who could well line up against cousin Shaun, the former Gloucester prop who now plays for Bath, in what would be Ciaran’s first Aviva Premiership appearance if he comes off the bench.

As well as the obvious West Country rivalry, there is a lot riding on the game for both teams. Bath are still pushing for a play-off spot, while Gloucester are still hoping to finish in the top six.

Director of rugby David Humphreys reflected on what has been a good week for the club, but stressed that focus quickly turned to the Bath game in what is a huge game for both clubs.

“We’re delighted to reach the final. One of the goals we set ourselves at the start of the season was to win the competition, so delighted to be there. And then backed up by another wonderful performance by our A team on Monday night,” he said.

“It’s much easier every week to come into a winning camp, but the mind immediately switches to Bath, a huge game for both teams with so much to play for this season.

“Everybody knows the history of this fixture, knows how important it is to the players, supporters and to the club. We’re almost playing cup rugby every weekend, with what’s at stake in the league and giving us that opportunity to push up the league and get into the play-offs.

“We had a great result there last year in pretty awful conditions, but it’ll be a very different game this time around. It’ll be an opportunity to go and play, show ambition and the belief we’ve shown in the last few weeks.”

Gloucester: 15. Tom Marshall; 14. Jonny May, 13. Henry Trinder, 12. Mark Atkinson, 11. David Halaifonua; 10. Billy Burns, 9. Willi Heinz (capt); 1. Josh Hohneck, 2. Richard Hibbard, 3. John Afoa; 4. Mariano Galarza, 5. Jeremy Thrush; 6. Ross Moriarty, 7. Jacob Rowan, 8. Ben Morgan

Replacements: 16. Motu Matu’u, 17. Paddy McAllister, 18. Ciaran Knight, 19. Tom Savage, 20. Lewis Ludlow, 21. Greig Laidlaw, 22. Billy Twelvetrees, 23. Charlie Sharples