BILLY Twelvetrees cannot wait to take on former club Leicester Tigers tomorrow – but not for any kind of revenge mission.
Accomplished centre Tweveltrees is focused on getting one over on his old team-mates, and cannot wait to square up to the Tigers at Kingsholm (kick-off 4.45pm).
But the 23-year-old said this is no grudge match: he enjoyed three fruitful years at Welford Road, and will relish meeting up with old friends.
Leicester boss Richard Cockerill was frustrated to put it mildly at losing a player of Twelvetrees' calibre last term.
Twelvetrees does not believe there is any ill feeling though, and is just set on battling to guide Gloucester to a fifth Premiership win this term.
He explained: "I'm really looking forward to it. I had three good, happy years there, made a lot of close friends and really enjoyed being around those boys there.
"So I'm looking forward to seeing some of the boys again and playing against them.
"You do that all the time in training at your club, so it won't feel that unusual – but obviously there will be far more pressure on this.
"I'm very much looking forward to it and I can't wait really.
"I know the team very well and how they go about certain things, but I was saying to the guys that what they are good at, and what they go to – that's obvious to everyone in the Premiership.
"They might not pull any surprises – but they are just extremely good at what they do.
"So you know it's coming, but it doesn't make it any easier to stop.
"They just do the simple things really well, they've got a great set-piece, they are very disciplined and are a good side.
"But we've got to show up and get our game in order and focus on that."
Calling for passion and endeavour in the next fortnight's Leicester and Harlequins clashes,
Twelvetrees continued: "It was quite good to be able to go all-out on the first six games, and then have a different focus for a couple of weeks.
"It was a bit weird having the weekends off but the boys probably feel a bit fresher for it.
"We've had six very competitive league games already but probably in the next two against the top two teams from last year we're going to need a lot of passion and endeavour.
"Leicester obviously have a great pack, and a great all-round team.
"It's going to be tough for us, but we're very confident in our own ability.
"We've only lost once this season, against Saints, and we're not too dejected about that because we know what we did wrong.
"But this is a good test for us and then Quins away will be another exciting one.
"We're still waiting for that 80-minute performance: and fingers crossed it comes this week!"
