Gloucester's Billy Twelvetrees is relishing the battle with Bath counterpart Sam Burgess

Gloucester centre Billy Twelvetrees is relishing the battle with Bath counterpart Sam Burgess for both club and country.

The Cherry and Whites welcome their West Country rivals to Kingsholm this Saturday with the rivalry of the centres making an intriguing subplot.

Burgess joined Bath in October amid great fanfare from his cross-code switch from League side South Sydney. His debut was delayed due to a fractured eye-socket but he started the 32-12 victory over Montpellier last Friday.

‘Slammin’ Sam has been touted to be fast-tracked into the England side for next year’s World Cup where he will come into direct competition for a place with Twelvetrees.

Rather than hiding from the extra competition, Twelvetrees is relishing the challenge ahead of his side’s tough Christmas schedule where they also play Wasps, Exeter Chiefs and Saracens.

It’s great for English rugby to get this calibre of player over here

“This week is the big one, there’s no hiding away from that and we let ourselves down the last time we played Bath at home which was disappointing,” Twelvetrees told the Bath Chronicle.

“But it’s Christmas time, we’re at Kingsholm against our rivals and if we won 3-0 that would be the best thing in the world. There’s no bigger game.

“If Sam plays or doesn’t play it doesn’t change anything from our point of view but it would be awesome to come up against a player of his quality and something I would look forward to.

“It’s great for English rugby to get this calibre of player over here.”