Gloucester v Munster: Teams

Gloucester coach Dean Ryan insists that home advantage could be the difference between a place in the Heineken Cup semi-finals and an early exit.

Gloucester entertain Munster at Kingsholm in what is sure to be the tie of the quarter-finals, with little to separate the two sides.

The Cherry and Whites head the Premiership table, while Munster are the cup specialists.

However, having won their two previous encounters against the Irish province at home, Ryan believes that the Kingsholm roar will be vital.

"I say this regularly but this is a side picked purely on the challenges we face this weekend," Ryan said.

"The Heineken Cup is capable of doing unique things to individuals and we are up against a side who have a special relationship with this competition and we want to get to the levels they have attained in the past.

"For us, home advantage gives us a little bit more of a lift - it gives us more confidence and maybe could be the margin that works for us on the day.

"It is up to us to go out and put a performance together we can be proud of and if we can do that then we can definitely be a threat, of that I have no doubt.

"We want to be moving and if we can do that I am sure we can challenge Munster."

Gloucester lost their quarter-final tie against Munster in 2003 at Thomond Park, while they lost their two other games on the road to the Irishmen.

Recall

However the 35-14 and 22-11 victories at Kingsholm will give the home side hope.

Ryan has made three changes to his starting XV for the clash, with Chris Paterson, Peter Buxton and Andy Hazell all recalled.

On the bench there is a recall for Mike Tindall after the England centre recovered from the serious injury he suffered against Wales in February.

Munster coach Declan Kidney admits the boot will be on the other foot when his side arrive at Kingsholm.

Munster have built up a fearsome reputation at Thomond Park, with only Leicester winning their in Europe.

However Kidney knows that his side will face a similar intimidating atmosphere against Gloucester.

"It's the reverse of our own place, the 'Shed' generates a great atmosphere but what you have to do is start looking forward to it. Not let it consume you," he told the Munster official website.

"If you go into it, fearing it, then it will just consume you and the game will pass you by. So better to go in saying, 'Aren't these the days I trained for, these the day I look forward to'.

"But it's going to be difficult no question of that. You only have to look at our last two visits there to realise what we're up against."

Gloucester: 15 Olly Morgan, 14 Chris Paterson, 13 James Simpson-Daniel, 12 Anthony Allen, 11 Lesley Vainikolo, 10 Ryan Lamb, 9 Rory Lawson, 8 Luke Narraway, 7 Andy Hazell, 6 Peter Buxton, 5 Alex Brown, 4 Marco Bortolami (capt), 3 Carlos Nieto, 2 Andy Titterell, 1 Nick Wood.
Replacements: 16 Jeremy Paul, 17 Alasdair Dickinson, 18 Will James, 19 Gareth Delve, 20 Gareth Cooper, 21 Willie Walker, 22 Mike Tindall.

Munster: 15 Darragh Hurley, 14 Doug Howlett, 13 Rua Tipoki, 12 Lifeimi Mafi, 11 Ian Dowling, 10 Ronan O'Gara, 9 Tomas O'Leary, 8 Denis Leamy, 7 David Wallace, 6 Alan Quinlan, 5 Paul O'Connell (capt), 4 Donncha O'Callaghan, 3 John Hayes, 2 Jerry Flannery, 1 Marcus Horan.
Replacements: 16 Frankie Sheahan, 17 Tony Buckley, 18 Mick O'Driscoll, 19 Anthony Foley, 20 Peter Stringer, 21 Paul Warwick, 22 Kieran Lewis.