Sione Kalamafoni will make his 100th competitive appearance for Gloucester Rugby as he starts at number eight in Friday evening's Aviva Premiership fixture away at Sale Sharks.

The Tongan international back-row is in his fourth season at Kingsholm having signed from Nottingham Rugby in the summer of 2012, and becomes the club's latest centurion. He will pack down in an all international back-row alongside Ross Moriarty and Matt Kvesic.

There is one other change to the pack that started the 16-9 victory over Exeter Chiefs last time out, Paul Doran-Jones coming in for John Afoa, with the All Black named amongst the replacements.

There is also one new face in the back line, as scrum-half Willi Heinz returns. Greig Laidlaw will skipper the side from the fly-half position with James Hook ruled out due to a back niggle.

Stockport and Salford haven't been happy hunting grounds for Gloucester in recent times, but Head Coach Laurie Fisher, previewing the game with the local media, stressed that he's looking for Gloucester to finish their campaign on a positive note.

"We know that we've struggled up in Manchester over a long period of time, but we want a good finish to the season. We know that it's important for this group to get a result up there which will be a real challenge.

"They're not fifth in the Aviva Premiership for no reason. They've had a particularly good year, they're a really well-organised team, very physical and with a great track record at home. So, it's an excellent challenge and hopefully one we can rise to.

"We just need to control the controllables. When we play well, we defend well, we have a solid set-piece, our kicking game works for us and we have lots of energy and enthusiasm. That's your basic formula and we have to front up and do that.

"It's important for us to end the season on a good note. We know that when we're at our best that we can compete with all sides in the competition. We know our record up there is poor and that's something we need to address, starting on Friday night.”

Gloucester Rugby: 15. Tom Marshall; 14. Rob Cook, 13. Henry Trinder, 12. Billy Twelvetrees, 11. Ollie Thorley; 10. Greig Laidlaw (capt), 9. Willi Heinz; 1. Yann Thomas, 2. Richard Hibbard, Paul Doran-Jones; 4. Tom Savage, 5. Jeremy Thrush; 6. Ross Moriarty, 7. Matt Kvesic, 8. Sione Kalamafoni

Replacements: 16. Luke Cole, 17. Nick Wood, 18. John Afoa, 19. Ben Morgan, 20. Gareth Evans, 21. Callum Braley, 22. Mark Atkinson, 23. Lewis Ludlow