DAVID Humphreys could rest a number of his key Gloucester men this weekend ahead of what could be the first of two massive European Champions Cup play-off matches in the coming weeks.
Gloucester will head to arch rivals Bath for their last Aviva Premiership match of the season on Saturday with nothing to play for other than pride as they are out of this year's title challenge.
However, their season is still not over as there is some unfinished business to take care of on Sunday week.
Their final domestic game is against a Bath outfit which will finish second in the table this weekend no matter how they get on against Gloucester.
But when that is done, Gloucester face Scottish outfit Edinburgh, whom they beat to win the European Challenge Cup on May 1, in the first of two play-offs for a European Champions Cup spot next season.
Whoever wins that match will then play a side from France’s Top 14 league at the end of the month to finally decide who will have that Champions Cup place.
So selection for the West Country derby is a headache. Humphreys said: “A lot of players in the dressing room after Saturday’s game (where Gloucester beat London Irish) have had ice on their bumps and bruises.
“We have to manage that but we want to fight, despite our league position. Everytime we go out, we want to perform and represent the people of Gloucester and how the supporters would expect us to.
“What team it will be? I am not sure at this stage. But you are always going to manage your resources so the players you get out on the pitch are the best.
“So we will look at players this week and, looking to Bath, depending on the injury situation, we will look to rest (players) where appropriate.”
Humphreys has also defended Gloucester’s disciplinary record after flanker Matt Kvesic was sent-off for a dangerous tackle in the 35-13 win at Kingsholm over London Irish.
Kvesic was dismissed on 22 minutes after he took out Irish scrum-half Tomas O’Leary in the air. The Irishman fell onto the ground on his neck, leading to an automatic red card.
Depending on a hearing this week, Kvesic could be banned for the match against Bath on Saturday, leaving Gloucester with three players on the ‘Bad Boy’ list after centre Billy Meakes and back row Ross Moriarty were banned following incidents in the European Challenge Cup final game against Edinburgh.
Humphreys said: “It (discipline) was something which was identified at the start of this season as a group. I think our discipline has been outstanding throughout the course of the season but last week, Bill Meakes was unfortunate with the red card.
“Here, Matt had to have a red card on definition of a tip tackle but, at the same time, there was no intent by Matt. Making that tackle, Tomas O’Leary is in the air, Matt has hit him quite hard and it is momentum.
“There are a lot of different theories around about what happened but he was very unfortunate here.”