After two weeks of Anglo-Welsh Cup action, Gloucester Rugby have rung the changes and have named almost a completely new starting XV for Saturday's Aviva Premiership fixture away at Leicester Tigers (kick-off 3pm).

Willi Heinz will skipper the side. Only six players, with just Sione Kalamafoni keeping his place in the starting line-up, are retained from the matchday 23 that defeated Newport Gwent Dragons last weekend.

Henry Purdy was an unused replacement against the Dragons, while Motu Matu'u, Yann Thomas, Salesi Ma'afu and Callum Braley started last week but are named as replacements.

The Cherry and Whites are without Greig Laidlaw, Jonny May and Ross Moriarty who are on Six Nations duty but Matt Scott has been released by Scotland and is named amongst the replacements.

Gloucester will travel to Welford Road on the back of a five game unbeaten run, and looking to close the gap on the Tigers who are three places and just three points ahead of them in the Aviva Premiership table.

Leicester have lost their last three Premiership outings, and suffered a couple of setbacks in Europe. However, Gloucester's Director of Rugby, David Humphreys, insists that results don't always tell the whole story.

He said: "We know what a good team they are. They've had a couple of difficult weeks in Europe. But, actually if you analyse the games, it wasn't as if they played badly. The teams they played against, Munster and Glasgow, were outstanding.

"We're well aware of the threats that they pose, the quality that they have. For us it's about taking the little bit of momentum, the confidence we've had from the past few weeks and prior to that performing in the Premiership, and taking that into this weekend.

"The squad are in good spirits, everybody's confident, there's a lot of belief. We're also well aware of the challenge that is going to Welford Road and the lack of success that we've had there in the recent past.

"That's part of going there. We want to create our own little piece of history this year and be the first team in the last few years to win there.”

Gloucester Rugby: 15. Tom Marshall; 14. Charlie Sharples, 13. Andy Symons, 12. Billy Twelvetrees, 11. Henry Purdy; 10. Billy Burns, 9. Willi Heinz (capt); 1. Josh Hohneck, 2. Richard Hibbard, 3. John Afoa; 4. Tom Savage, 5. Jeremy Thrush; 6. Lewis Ludlow, 7. Jacob Rowan, 8. Sione Kalamafoni

Replacements: 16. Motu Matu'u, 17. Yann Thomas, 18. Salesi Ma'afu, 19. Mariano Galarza, 20. Matt Kvesic, 21. Callum Braley, 22. James Hook, 23. Matt Scott

Unavailable for selection: Paddy McAllister, Ross Moriarty, Gareth Evans, Ben Morgan, Greig Laidlaw, Mark Atkinson, Jonny May, Ollie Thorley