The Prem: Joe Batley back for Bristol’s crucial Gloucester derby

Lock Joe Batley has returned from a thumb injury earlier than expected to start for Bristol in their must-win game against Gloucester on Friday.

The Bears, who are seven points behind Exeter in fifth, also have centre Benhard Janse van Rensburg in the starting XV after scans ruled out a suspected cheek fracture which forced him off during the defeat by Toulouse two weeks ago.

Rich Lane makes his first appearance since February at full-back in place of Louis Rees-Zammit who misses out with injury.

Gloucester have made five changes from the team that lost to Leicester in their last outing.

Prop Dian Bleuler and lock Danny Eite make their Prem starts for the Cherry and Whites, the latter having agreed a new deal with the club this week.

Seb Blake comes in at hooker, while in the backs George Barton starts at full-back with Josiah Edwards-Giraud on the wing as Ben Redshaw drops to the bench.

Bristol: Lane; Ravouvou, Janse van Rensburg, Williams, Ibitoye; Jordan, Marmion; Genge, Oghre, Kloska; Dun, Batley, Owen, Harding (c), Grondona.

Replacements: Thacker, Woolmore, Lahiff, Barker, Ivanishvili, Randall, Moroni, Heward.

Gloucester: Barton; Edwards-Giraud, Llewellyn, S. Atkinson (c), Thorley, C. Atkinson, Englefield; Bleuler, Blake, Fasogbon; Eite, Clark, Gwynne, Ludlow, Clement.

Replacements: Innard, Rapava Ruskin, Knight, Alemanno, Trenholm, Austin, Joseph, Loader.