MARK ATKINSON, Billy Burns and David Halaifonua will make their first starts in Europe for Gloucester with Oyonnax the visitors to Kingsholm today (kick-off 3pm).

The Cherry and Whites make half a dozen changes to the side that started against Saracens last Friday evening.

Burns will partner Greig Laidlaw at half back, the Scotland skipper returning from injury, with James Hook appearing in the 15 shirt for Gloucester for the first time.

Up front, Yann Thomas replaces the injured Nick Wood and Gareth Evans does likewise for Ben Morgan. Richard Hibbard and James Hudson come in for Darren Dawidiuk and Elliott Stooke respectively.

Gloucester currently top pool five with four wins from their four games so far. They are seven points clear of second-placed Oyonnax and a win would clinch top spot.

"The two recent wins have given some real self-belief to the squad, and Europe has brought the best out of the team so far this season," said director of rugby David Humphreys.

"Training has gone well and we're looking forward to hopefully getting the win which would ensure that we win the pool.

"But, if you look at Oyonnax, they had a good win over Montpellier last weekend. When we played them out there, it took a while to put them away.

"We will respect very much what they bring, but we will focus on the performance and result before we worry about the implications of where we finish.”

Gloucester Rugby: James Hook; David Halaifonua, Mark Atkinson, Billy Twelvetrees (capt), Jonny May; Billy Burns, Greig Laidlaw; Yann Thomas, Richard Hibbard, John Afoa; Tom Savage, James Hudson; Sione Kalamafoni, Matt Kvesic, Gareth Evans.

Replacements: Darren Dawidiuk, Dan Murphy, Shaun Knight, Elliott Stooke, Ross Moriarty, Dan Robson, Bill Meakes, Steve McColl.