FORMER Stow RFC player Elliott Stooke starts for Gloucester when they travel to Sandy Park to take on defending champions Exeter Chiefs in this afternoon's opening LV=Cup clash.

The giant lock featured regularly last season when he was one of the side's best players but following a major overhaul of the squad under new director of rugby David Humphreys this term, Stooke has had to be patient, making just one start.

Humphreys has opted to pick a squad full of fringe and academy players with a number of his squad away on international duty.

Number eight Gareth Evans, will make his first appearance since injuring his knee against Bath at Kingsholm in April and he is joined in the starting line up by five players making their first competitive starts for Gloucester – Steve McColl, Mark Atkinson, Tom Isaacs, Aled Thomas and Dan Thomas.

Despite the new look starting line-up, scrum coach Trevor Woodman feels that it's a great chance for those selected for duty to show what they can do.

"It's important that we keep the momentum going. It's a change of competition but it gives a lot of other players, who have been in the 23 on the bench, an opportunity to start a game which is a different prospect altogether.

"But we've got a strong outfit, there's no doubt about that. We're looking to push forward and take another step towards where we want to be.

"It's important for us to give a bit of rest to the players who have started the first eight games, but it's also a great opportunity for those have played a little bit, who have featured in some A League games, and for us to have a look at what's coming out of the Academy.

"Exeter are the holders, so we have to make sure that we respect the opposition because it's going to be a tough task. But we have to worry about what we're doing, make sure we're accurate and bring that intensity and physicality that will match them down at their place.”

Gloucester: Steve McColl; Shane Monahan, Billy Meakes, Mark Atkinson, Tom Isaacs; Aled Thomas, Dan Robson; Yann Thomas, Darren Dawidiuk, Shaun Knight; Elliott Stooke, James Hudson (capt); Ross Moriarty, Dan Thomas, Gareth Evans.

Replacements: Aleki Lutui, James Gibbons, Sila Puafisi, Tom Hicks, Joe Batley, Callum Braley, Billy Burns, Henry Purdy