Pendlebury handed debut
Jonathan Pendlebury will make his Premiership debut at the Causeway Stadium.
Wasps v Gloucester
Guinness Premiership, Causeway Stadium, Monday December 26, KO 15.00PM
Gloucester coach Dean Ryan has handed young star Jonathan Pendlebury the ultimate litmus test, throwing him into his Premiership debut against champions Wasps.
Pendlebury excelled in the two recent European Challenge Cup games, and the 22-year-old is confident that he can stand the pressure of the Causeway Stadium.
"I always thought I could get a chance and now I just want to take it. We know it will be tough because Wasps are an outstanding side but we are all really excited about the challenge we face," said the second row.
"It is my first start for the club in the Premiership and it probably couldn't come in a bigger game. It's a massive test for everyone. We have been building up for this game in our last two games against Toulon and we will be right up for it."
Pendlebury will partner Alex Brown in one of five changes to the Cherry-and-Whites' side, as they aim to leapfrog their London counterparts on Boxing Day.
Olly Morgan will slot in at full back and James Bailey will feature on the wing for only his second league start of the season.
In the forwards, Patrice Collazo replaces Nick Wood, Phil Vickery adds experience at tighthead and Andy Hazell is preferred to Jake Boer.
Meanwhile, Wasps have named the same starting XV that comfortably overcame Llanelli Scarlets in their last outing.
Having been beaten by the Welsh side in the first game of a Heineken Cup double-header, Wasps produced a characteristically strong performance to triumph 48-14 at the Causeway Stadium.
McGeechan's decision to keep faith with that team means that Matt Dawson once again has to settle for a bench place, as Eoin Reddan maintains his role in the side.
Elsewhere, Joe Worsley is deemed fit enough to be a replacement, but Tom Rees misses yet another game due to an injured shoulder.
Wasps team: 15 Mark Van Gisbergen, 14 Paul Sackey, 13 Josh Lewsey, 12 Stuart Abbott, 11 Tom Voyce, 10 Alex King, 9 Eoin Reddan, 1 Alistair McKenzie, 2 Raphael Ibanez, 3 Tim Payne, 4 Simon Shaw, 5 George Skivington, 6 John Hart, 7 Jonny O'Connor, 8 Lawrence Dallaglio (c)
Replacements: Joe Ward, Jon Dawson, Joe Worsley, Mark Lock, Matt Dawson, Rob Hoadley, Ayoola Erinle
Gloucester team: 15 Olly Morgan, 14 Mark Foster, 13 James Simpson-Daniel, 12 Mike Tindall, 11 James Bailey, 10 Ludovic Mercier, 9 Peter Richards; 1 Patrice Collazo, 2 Mefin Davies, 3 Phil Vickery (Capt), 4 Jonathan Pendlebury, 5 Alex Brown, 6 Adam Balding, 7 Andy Hazell, 8 James Forrester
Replacements: Rob Elloway, Gary Powell, Adam Eustace, Jake Boer, Haydn Thomas, Terry Fanolua, Brad Davies.
