Adam Eustace is determined to take his opportunity for Gloucester on Saturday, after his "10 minutes running around like a headless chicken" at Bristol last week proved enough to earn him a recall.

The 29-year-old lock will be making his first Guinness Premiership start since returning to his hometown club from Llanelli Scarlets last summer when Saracens visit Kingsholm.

And Eustace, who has been selected by head coach Dean Ryan ahead of Marco Bortolami, is eager to make a positive impression in the No 4 shirt.

He last started a league game for Gloucester at Bristol in November 2006 – and now wants to enjoy an extended run in the side at the start of 2009.

"I came off the bench at Bristol last week and set up a try and had a couple of good runs, so Dean has chucked me in there and given me a chance," said Eustace.

"When you get 10 minutes to make an impact, you are running around like a headless chicken trying to do as much as you can to impress.

"Luckily, I got into a couple of positions and things worked out for me. Now I have to maintain for 80 minutes, or however long I am on the field, what I did for 10 last week."

Eustace has now played 200 games for Gloucester – but admits it has taken him a while to adjust to their new style since he returned to the club in the summer.

His reintroduction was not made any smoother by a pre-season foot injury which caused him to sit out of competitive action until October.

"I have been getting 10 minutes here and there, but it has taken me a while to get back used to the way Gloucester play," said Eustace.

"I went to Llanelli and when I came back, the style was a bit different to what I had known here, so I have been getting used to the detail and structure.

"I'm not big-headed, but I know I am as good as Marco, Will James or Alex Brown when I am on form and playing well. I just hope I can pop up in the right position a few times, have a couple of good runs and make my tackles against Saracens."

Ryan's buzz-word after last week's 29-10 win at Bristol was "energy" – and he praised the contributions of both Eustace and young scrum-half Dave Lewis in helping to raise the energy levels in the final 10 minutes.

Their efforts helped secure a try-scoring bonus point – and both players have been rewarded with starts today.

"Whereas before injuries to other players have given me the call-up to play, I think this time I am in there on merit," said Eustace.

"It might only have been 10 minutes last week, but Marco is on the bench and I think I have been picked because of what I offered at Bristol.

"I have been pretty patient and I recognise that this is a pretty massive opportunity for me.

"This could decide whether or not I play in the big games later in the month like Cardiff at home, which is a game everyone wants to play in."

Gloucester: O Morgan; M Watkins, M Tindall (capt), O Barkley, L Vainikolo; R Lamb, D Lewis; N Wood, O Azam, C Nieto, A Eustace, A Brown, A Strokosch, A Satala, L Narraway. Reps: A Titterrell, A Dickinson, M Bortolami, D Williams, R Lawson, W Walker, M Foster.

Saracens: A Goode; K Ratuvou, K Sorrell, A Farrell (capt), R Haughton; G Jackson, N de Kock; M Aguero, F Ongaro, T Mercey, H Vyvyan, C Jack, B Skirving, W van Heerden, M Owen. Reps: A Kyriacou, N Lloyd, C Visagie, A Saull, M Rauluni, A Powell, N Cato.