Kingsholm will be rocking for Gloucester's first home league game of the new season tomorrow (3pm).

George Skivington's men take on Northampton in the newly-named English Gallagher Prem looking to bounce back from their opening day 27-10 defeat at Sale nine days ago.

Northampton, too, will be looking to kick-start their campaign after allowing Exeter Chiefs to draw 33-33 at Franklin’s Gardens six days ago after leading 33-7 at the break.

“It should be a great game, both teams have something to prove,” said former Gloucester captain Andy Deacon, who will be one of thousands at the ground tomorrow.

“The first home league game of any season is always special, there’s always so much expectation.

“It’s special for the new signings, too. They’ll be excited playing in front of their new fans for the first time. Even as an international, running out at Kingsholm for the first time is a special feeling.”

Deacon, a prop back in the day, is particularly looking forward to watching back row James Venter make his home debut.

The 29-year-old South African played on the openside at Sale and Deacon said: “I like the look of him, he definitely adds something. He’s a good player, he’s particularly effective defensively.”  

Gloucester: 15 Charlie Atkinson, 14 Ben Loader, 13 Will Joseph, 12 Seb Atkinson, 11 Ollie Thorley, 10 Ross Byrne, 9 Tomos Williams (capt); 1 Ciaran Knight, 2 Seb Blake, 3 Afolabi Fasogbon, 4 Freddie Thomas, 5 Cam Jordan, 6 Josh Basham, 7 James Venter, 8 Jack Mann. Reps: 16 Jack Innard, 17 Archie McArthur, 18 Kirill Gotovtsev, 19 Matias Alemanno, 20 Hugh Bokenham, 21 Harry Taylor, 22 Caolan Englefield, 23 Josiah Edwards-Giraud.

Northampton: 15 George Hendy, 14 Edoardo Todaro, 13 Rory Hutchinson, 12 Tom Litchfield, 11 James Martin, 10 Anthony Belleau, 9 Archie McParland, 1 Emmanuel Iyogun, 2 Henry Walker, 3 Elliot Millar Mills, 4 Alex Coles, 5 JJ Van Der Mescht, 6 Angus Scott-Young, 7 Tom Pearson, 8 Callum Chick (capt). Reps: 16 Robbie Smith, 17 Danilo Fischetti, 18 Cleopas Kundiona, 19 Tom Lockett, 20 Fyn Brown, 21 Jonny Weimann, 22 Toby Thame, 23 James Pater