TACTICAL variety will be Gloucester's route to combating Welford Road aerial bombardment, believes Nigel Davies.
Gloucester boss Davies has called on his side to stay firm under intense high bomb pressure in tomorrow's Premiership clash at Leicester Tigers (kick-off 5pm).
Powerful Leicester exploit their short and narrow Welford Road pitch, turning defence into attack with one high hoist – and kicking penalties from comfortably inside their own half.
Throw in the ability to clear to touch from almost one 22 to the other, and the situation is clear.
One mistake at the East Midlands stronghold, and the home side will be sniffing a try.
Hailing Gloucester's ability to shift their tactical ploys when and where required though, Davies said the Cherry and Whites are ready to fight fire with fire.
The former Wales centre explained: "What we've been able to do this year is change games tactically, very subtly but it makes a difference.
"So we've got to do that again.
"Weather conditions can change, the way a game pans out can go against what you plan for – and when those things happen you just need to tweak things.
"And that will be the case this weekend I'm sure.
"They are very comfortable playing at home, it's not the biggest pitch in the world, they play a style to suit that and have the personnel to deliver it.
"They have a very effective kick chase game, which works well on that particular type of pitch, as Sarries do.
"So we have to deal with the aerial battle that we'll face, that will be one of the key areas to come out on top of.
"It's going to be physical, we know that, but we've been pretty physical ourselves this season."
At Vicarage Road Gloucester often employed their fly-half or inside centre as an auxiliary full-back, cutting down Saracens' tactical kicking options in their slender 28-23 defeat.
While Davies admits Gloucester may ask Freddie Burns or Billy Twelvetrees to reprise that ploy tomorrow, he said the majority of the high-ball work still falls to the back-three.
When Leicester rallied to see off the Ospreys 39-22 in Heineken Cup action at Welford Road, fly-half Toby Flood slotted a crucial penalty from his own ten-metre line.
The rangy shot had more to do with the cramped surface than Flood's howitzer boot.
And Davies said that alone ought to prove sufficient warning to his men that any loose play will be punished without mercy.
He continued: "One way to deal with that is for one or other of the playmakers to drop back at points, that's one way to deal with it.
"But I also think that the back-three are going to have to deal with the aerial threat.
"They have got a very strong kicking game, we're aware of it and we know it's a challenge for us, and we have to be able to deal with it.
"Missed tackles can lead to immediate chances, you can kick goals from at least halfway, and that aerial threat – you can go from one 22 to the other with one big kick.
"So if you can have an effective chase and put hang-time on the ball, then all of a sudden you can go from one area of the field to another.
"So those are all key factors on this type of pitch.
"Discipline is always a huge consideration, but even more so on a pitch like this."
