FREDDIE BURNS returns at fly half as Gloucester make four changes to their starting line up for Saturday's Aviva Premiership game at Franklin's Gardens against Northampton Saints.

Burns replaces Ryan Mills who injured a knee last weekend in the 25-20 victory over Harlequins at Kingsholm. Meanwhile, Martyn Thomas has recovered from his hamstring injury and takes over from Shane Monahan on the left wing.

The only changes to the pack see Yann Thomas and Huia Edmonds replace Nick Wood and Darren Dawidiuk respectively in the front row.

Gloucester travel to Northampton as the only team to defeat the Saints in the Premiership so far this season, and director of rugby Nigel Davies knows that Gloucester will have to be on top of their game at Franklin's Gardens.

"They've had a fantastic season so far, only lost the one game and are rightly at the top of the league right now. They're a very complete side, a very competent team and it's going to be a big ask for us.

"They can score tries in a number of ways, they look to grind sides down with a very effective set piece. But they also have a more rounded game and have strike players throughout the side. They're not top of the league for nothing.

"We've adjusted quite a few things over the past couple of months and, to a certain degree, it's been paying dividends. There's a lot of energy, enthusiasm and confidence within the players and that's a good thing.

"We want to continue in the manner that we've been playing. That's the most important thing for us at the weekend. We know we have a number of challenges, and we have to front up and impose our own game and patterns.”

Gloucester Rugby: Rob Cook; Charlie Sharples, Henry Trinder, Mike Tindall (capt), Martyn Thomas; Freddie Burns, Dan Robson; Yann Thomas, Huia Edmonds, Rupert Harden; Elliott Stooke, James Hudson; Sione Kalamafoni, Matt Kvesic, Gareth Evans.

Replacements: Darren Dawidiuk, Dan Murphy, Sila Puafisi, Will James, Matt Cox, Jimmy Cowan, Billy Burns, Shane Monahan