Rory Lawson is ready to gamble with his Scotland career by pulling out of their 'A' international against Italy in a show of loyalty to Gloucester.

The 27-year-old has been called up for Scotland A's clash with Italy A at Perth on Friday – but has told Scottish bosses he would rather face Bath at Kingsholm the following day.

If Lawson is not made available for club action, Gloucester will go into the key Guinness Premiership match without a recognised scrum-half, with Gareth Cooper and Dave Lewis both injured.

And they would be forced to field fly-half Ryan Lamb against Michael Claassens, who is arguably the best scrum-half in the Premiership.

Gloucester head coach Dean Ryan is yet to hear whether Lawson will be available. 'A' internationals take precedence over club games in the eyes of International Rugby Board protocol.

"Rory Lawson has been called up to play for Scotland A, but I understand he has expressed his wishes to stay here," said Ryan.

"If that is agreed to, it will help us enormously. Rory has expressed a wish to come back, which has not necessarily painted him in the best light up there, but I think it's valid and creditable.

"That shows his loyalty to solving things here – and that's a huge credit to him."

Ryan was already planning to be without England duo Mike Tindall and Luke Narraway, Italy pair Marco Bortolami and Carlos Nieto and Scots Alasdair Strokosch, Alasdair Dickinson, Scott Lawson and David Young for Saturday's match.

And his scrum-half's A call-up has merely made matters worse as he prepares to face a Bath team currently sitting four points and three places below Gloucester in the Premiership.

It is the latest in a long line of frustrations for Ryan, who has also seen his relationships with the Welsh and English unions strained due to player release issues.

He added: "I'm a bit disappointed and frustrated with all the union relationships at the moment, because I'm not sure an A game against Italy merits the same treatment as a Premiership game against Bath.

"We've always been supportive of international rugby, but it can become a little bit wearing when you've got World Cup Sevens, Six Nations and A games. It then becomes quite difficult to manage.

"We're low on resources anyway, so it just compounds problems we've already got. It's a credit that people like Rory have put their flag up – and it's essential that he comes back."

Full-back Olly Morgan is fit again but has spent the early part of the week training with England, while flanker Akapusi Qera, back in full training after eight months out following knee surgery, is in contention to make the bench against Bath.