Olly Barkley will have to wait on the replacements' bench for his chance of a reunion with his former Bath team-mates after being dropped in favour of Anthony Allen for today's Kingsholm derby.

Centre Barkley spoke emotionally during the week about the possibility of facing the club he left after eight years last summer.

But he will start the Guinness Premiership first-versus-fourth clash with the No 22, rather than the No 12, on his back.

Head coach Dean Ryan has paired Allen and James Simpson-Daniel in the centre, with Iain Balshaw and Charlie Sharples starting on the wings and the fit-again Olly Morgan at full-back.

"I say it regularly, but we have picked a side purely for this game," said Ryan. "I am sure it will be an incredible occasion.

"This game will be about two really good teams coming together. We are both pretty consistent and are renowned for producing formidable contests – not just this season but throughout the history of the rivalry."

Barkley will be joined by Ryan Lamb and the fit-again Gareth Cooper on the bench, while Ryan's forward replacement options are limited by international calls and injuries.

Rookie lock Danny Wright joins young No 8 Dan Williams among the replacements as Marco Bortolami is away with Italy and Will James is injured.

Ryan was given a significant boost, however, when scrum-half Rory Lawson was able to negotiate his release from Scotland's 'A' international against Italy last night. The 27-year-old is back at Kingsholm and will start opposite Bath's outstanding No 9, Michael Claassens, this afternoon.

Gloucester are the only team to beat Bath at the Recreation Ground in a league game this season, winning 21-17 on an afternoon when Butch James missed kick after kick for the home side.

And flanker Andy Hazell, who savoured that first Gloucester league win at the Rec last September more than most, expects another physical battle today.

"It's Gloucester-Bath – it's one of those games where the tempo and intensity are always higher and the crowd is always louder," he said.

"It's a massive game for us in the context of the season anyway, but being Bath as well makes it even bigger. We need to pick up some points to stay at the top end of the table.

"There is still a big rivalry, and although a few of us are good mates off the field, it's Gloucester-Bath and the intensity will be phenomenal.

"They are going to want to come here and beat us, because we are the only team to have won at their place in the league this season. They will be after us and we've got to make sure we're up for it."

Today's match is the latest in a punishing run of fixtures for Gloucester, who have faced Cardiff Blues, Biarritz, London Irish, Sale and Harlequins in their last five games and meet Bath, Leicester and Wasps in their next three.

"We've got to pick up as many points as we can against the other top sides," said Hazell.

"Last week we lost at Harlequins, who are a good team, but we're a good team too and we have to worry about ourselves as we head into these tough games.

"We lost last weekend and we can't back it up with another loss – we need to go out and get those points.

"And these are the sort of games you want to play – I'm lucky because I'm just coming back from injury and feeling fresh."

Hazell's season has been badly disrupted by a persistent knee problem, an injury which kept him out of a crucial run of games and denied him the opportunity to secure the No 7 shirt in the absence of Akapusi Qera.

The Fijian, who produced a stunning display against Bath in Gloucester's 8-6 win on the final day of the regular season last May, is closing in on a return after knee surgery and had been expected to push for a place on the bench today.

"Q is close now and it's good to have another player back," said Hazell.

"I know he's coming back, so I know I've got to keep playing well – and that is a good thing.

"He is going to want to get back in the side and play well, and then we've got the international boys to come back as well, so it does bring the intensity up in training and means the coaches get better performances out of individuals."