GLOUCESTER will not be pigeon-holed as underdogs at Welford Road, calls Billy Twelvetrees.
The former Leicester Tigers playmaker saw plenty of sides lose before they arrived at the East Midlands stronghold during his time with the decorated Premiership powers.
Bullish centre Twelvetrees knows Leicester will fully expect victory in today's Premiership clash (kick-off 5pm) – but warned that buoyant Gloucester will not be intimidated.
Admitting the Cherry and Whites will gain extra motivation from Leicester expecting victory, the 24-year-old said any mistakes will be ruthlessly punished by the razor-sharp hosts.
Twelvetrees said he will feed off the crowd's frenzy in his Welford Road debut as a visitor. Relishing his first return to Leicester since moving to Kingsholm in the summer, Twelvetrees said Gloucester have serious play-off ambitions – and are ready to realise them.
He explained: "I'm very much looking forward to it, and it's a good time for us to play them I think.
"I think Tigers will perceive us as underdogs. Going to Welford Road, they see it as never wanting to lose there.
"But the belief we have from beating them earlier this year, we know we can go up there and win.
"The Welford Road crowd will expect Leicester to win, so I think it is evens in that respect.
"The result over Exeter more than the performance can give us confidence.
"Maybe up until that point in the season we hadn't had to overturn a deficit going into the last ten or so minutes against a very good side.
"And that's what we managed against Exeter.
"We know we have the ability and gameplan to turn to if the weather worsens.
"If you're not on top of your game you will be punished.
"It's not an intimidating place to play, it's a place where you really look forward to it, because it's iconic, but also because it's such a huge challenge.
"There is a huge amount of pressure up there of course, and if you're not ready to put your body on the line then you're not going to win the game.
"Everyone at Gloucester is fully willing to do that, though, we really want success.
"We're all willing to put in whatever extra effort is required.
"And we've got every belief that we can do that.
"If you give penalties away or you make a mistake, even in your own half, then you will be punished on that pitch.
"It's vital there more than anywhere else to do the right things in the right areas.
"We're very aware of what's in front of us, but we're also very mindful of what's in our armoury and what threats we can pose to them too.
"I'm personally very pleased with where we are.
"When we came together in pre-season I wasn't sure what to expect in a certain way, because there were a lot of new coaches and players.
"But I think the games we've been playing and the ambition we have as a side is superb.
"It's great being part of a team that wants to be that good.
"We're not relieved or delighted to be winning, we want to get better and better.
"We all want to be in that top four and pushing for silverware."
Not anticipating too many alien feelings walking into Welford Road as an outsider, Twelvetrees said Gloucester can draw heart from last weekend's 18-16 Exeter victory and the April 2011 41-41 thriller against the Tigers.
The Cherry and Whites refused to allow Alesana Tuilagi's hat-trick to subdue them that day, as they edged to a play-off berth.
Twelvetrees was on the receiving end of the Gloucester comeback on that occasion, with Andy Hazell and then Eliota Fuimaono-Sapolu stealing tries for a breathless draw.
The former Bedford pivot said that result still to this day indicates how the best course of action at Leicester can be to go for the jugular.
He added: "I remember playing in that game, thinking, 'Oh God.'
"But it just shows what teams can do if they take it to them, if you're not scared of what Leicester are and what they bring.
"If you go up there and have a shot at them then you have a chance.
"I've always relished playing in tough atmospheres away from home.
"It really gets players going if you go somewhere not deemed favourites. That suits my personality as well, I really enjoy that.
"It should be a great experience to meet up with and line up against some old friends.
"The way they approach the game week-in week-out is why they have been so successful.
"The ethos of Tigers has been the same for years and years, they keep strong traditions and set their stall by consistency.
"They use a simple gameplan, they know it inside-out and know how to exploit it.
"They drum it into the players and they work hard for each other.
"But if you stay accurate and have the confidence to have a go at them then you have a chance.
"And that's what we've got to do now."
