CAGE fighter lookalike Ryan Mills has the choke-hold defence and the strategic attacking brain to thrive almost anywhere across the Gloucester backline, believes Billy Twelvetrees.
Impressed Twelvetrees reckons 20-year-old playmaker Mills could even slot into an outside centre role for the Cherry and Whites.
Shifting natural inside centre Mills to the 13 berth could tee up the intriguing prospect of Gloucester fielding three playmakers at the same time.
A Freddie Burns-Twelvetrees-Mills inside-back trio may never come to fruition – but a triple midfield pivot, allied with Gloucester's speed-king outside backs, could prove a devastating combination.
Now the Six Nations is finished, Gloucester finally have all their midfield options fit and available for the first time this season.
And Twelvetrees hopes the talent-rich back division can step up the Cherry and Whites tempo – starting against London Welsh at Kingsholm tomorrow (kick-off 3pm).
The 24-year-old explained: "Millsy's a big guy, very solid and very strong – he's built like a UFC cage fighter – he's a great defender, he enjoys the physical side of things and because of that element he's very versatile.
"Wherever you put him in the backline he can have an effect, because he can defend strongly, but he's also got a great tactical and playmaking brain on him as well.
"I don't see why he couldn't play 13 – that could be pretty interesting – why not?
"He's a quality player, he's similar to me in that he's a 12 who can play a bit of ten as well.
"He's got a huge skill-set and he's very ambitious, just like everyone else at the club.
"With great footwork and a good turn of pace too, he's very dangerous to have in the side.
"He's definitely keeping everyone on their toes.
"Hopefully he'll get some more game-time and he can continue to show what he can do."
Twelvetrees, Mike Tindall, Tim Molenaar, Henry Trinder and Mills will all battle for the two centre slots in Gloucester's run-in.
Expecting some pulsating action behind the pack, Twelvetrees continued: "I think we'll be pretty versatile all-round in the back division now heading into the business end of the season.
"Now is the time for the backs to step up; to help move things up a few gears.
"We've been very adaptable to whatever situations we find ourselves in this year.
"Early on our scrum was very strong, and then our back-row has been awesome for a long time.
"And now we'd love it as a backline if we can do some real damage."
Admitting Gloucester must rubber-stamp their play-off potency without further delay, Twelvetrees is gearing up for one of the most physical games of the season against the Exiles tomorrow.
He added: "Now's the time for us to prove to ourselves and everyone else that we should be in this top four.
"If we exploit all the options open to us now then we should play some good rugby.
"We've had everyone swapping in and out in training, swapping roles and testing each other, and things are looking good.
"So whichever combinations are put out across the next five league games, we've just got to bring the best out in each other.
"We know the gameplan, and if we can put that into effect then we will threaten teams, and hopefully open them up.
"They are bottom of the league, raring to go, and the world's against them from their point of view.
"They just want to prove they deserve to be in this league, and to show how much they want it.
"They've proven all year they can win games, they can play and fight for 80 minutes, they can turn over ball, they can play good rugby, and they are very dangerous in defence too, the way they get off the line.
"So we've got to be very switched-on, very smart in the way we play the game."
