Gloucestershire captain Alex Gidman will warn his team-mates to beware the risk of taking Leicestershire lightly ahead of today's LV County Championship Second Division match at Grace Road.

Promotion-chasing Glos'ters will be expected to make light of a Foxes side full of inexperienced youth and short of star players.

Earlier in the season they romped to a 10-wicket victory over the Midlands side in Bristol.

But Leicestershire have discovered some form since then and Gidman believes they now present a tougher proposition.

"Leicestershire have a very young side and found the going difficult during the first half of the season," recalled Gidman. "People were predicting a season of struggle for them and that looked to be the case in May and June.

"But we cannot allow ourselves to be fooled by that. They've picked up during the second half of the summer and go into this game with a bit of form behind them.

"If we roll up thinking the game is as good as won, then we could be in trouble. They have a couple of very useful South Africans and one or two others who are having a decent season, and we have to be prepared to compete."

Currently third in the table with five games to play, Gloucestershire are ideally-placed to sustain their challenge for a return to Division One. And Gidman feels the next two games - they meet Middlesex at Lord's next week - present his team with an opportunity to further strengthen their position.

"These are games we are more than capable of winning, providing we apply ourselves properly," said the former England A all-rounder.

"I've said all along that I'll be happy if we're in a good position going into September, and we have a great opportunity to collect 25 to 30 points from the next couple of matches.

"I don't think we're yet in a position where this (Leicestershire) is a must-win game, but there is still a sense of determination and excitement."

Anthony Ireland returned match figures of 8-109 to put the skids under Leicestershire at Nevil Road and is recalled to the squad after illness.

Gidman said: "Anthony went down with swine flu and was quite poorly. But he's OK now, has worked hard in practice and is ready to compete."

Ireland is the only addition to the squad which beat Essex by 10 wickets in the last round of Championship matches.

Batsman Will Porterfield is away on international duty with Ireland and Rob Woodman is expected to continue at the top of the order.

Gidman said: "We want to give Rob a run in the side to see if he can establish himself. He's a well-organised cricketer."

Gloucestershire (from): Ali, Woodman, Marshall, Gidman, Taylor, Franklin, Adshead, Dawson, Lewis, Saxelby, Kirby, Ireland.