GLOUCESTER make five changes to the side that defeated Oyonnax at the weekend as they seek to finish unbeaten in the European Challenge Cup pool stages in Thursday's game at Brive.

There are two changes in the backs and three in the forwards. Jonny May, who was included in Stuart Lancaster's England Six Nations squad announced today, hasn't recovered from the illness that forced him off at half-time against Oyonnax and is replaced by Henry Purdy, while Dan Robson comes in for Greig Laidlaw.

Up front, Darren Dawidiuk takes over from Welsh Six Nations squad member Richard Hibbard and there is a new look engine room in Elliott Stooke and Tom Palmer, with Tom Savage moving into the back row.

The Cherry and Whites are currently top seeds in the competition after five rounds and have secured a home quarter-final.

"It's never a dead rubber at this stage of the competition," said director of rugby David Humphreys.

"We're still playing to be number one seeds and to be the only team unbeaten going into the quarter-finals.

"Going over to France is another challenge for us. We performed well over in Oyonnax earlier in the competition, so it's about showing that we can go on the road and win.

"We've no idea how they're going to react to losing all their games in the competition so far. James Hook has been talking to some of our backs about his time in Perpignan and explaining how proud teams are of their home records.

"There's never an easy game in France, but we're going over there on the back of some good performances and some good wins. So our focus has been very much on ourselves and how we're going to perform.”

Gloucester: James Hook; David Halaifonua, Mark Atkinson, Billy Twelvetrees (capt), Henry Purdy; Billy Burns, Dan Robson; Yann Thomas, Darren Dawidiuk, John Afoa; Elliott Stooke, Tom Palmer; Tom Savage, Matt Kvesic, Sione Kalamafoni.

Replacements: Aleki Lutui, Dan Murphy, Shaun Knight, James Hudson, Ross Moriarty, Callum Braley, Bill Meakes, Shane Monahan.