Luke Narraway is relishing the competition Gareth Delve's return to the Gloucester squad over the coming weeks will provide, writes Steve Cotton.

England No 8 Narraway has started 15 of Gloucester's 19 matches so far this season and has been an automatic selection when fit.

But he is desperate for Delve to complete his recovery from summer knee surgery – and expects the Wales back-rower's return to help ensure he produces his best form.

"There are two reasons why I am looking forward to him coming back," said Narraway, who is likely to retain the No 8 shirt for Sunday's crunch Heineken Cup clash with Cardiff Blues.

"When you look to the bench when you're a bit tired and you don't see any back-rowers then you know you've got to play another 80 minutes.

"And competition in the back row is something we haven't had this season – it was always going to be tough for the first six months of the season.

"Delvey and myself played some of our best rugby last season, so it's good to know you have got to play to the best of your ability to stay in the team."

Gloucester lost 10-7 at Newcastle in the Guinness Premiership three days ago and lost full-back Olly Morgan with a finger injury which needed surgery.

He joined Iain Balshaw, James Simpson-Daniel, Lesley Vainikolo, Gareth Cooper, Greg Somerville, Peter Buxton, Andy Hazell, Akapusi Qera and Delve on a lengthy injury list.

And Narraway believes little has been made of Gloucester's injury problems, which have not halted their charge to second place in the Premiership after 12 matches.

"People haven't really commented on our injuries, but sometimes we feel we get unfair criticism in the national press," said the 25-year-old, who will discover today whether or not he has made England's Six Nations Championship squad.

"We have played with three or four fit back-rowers for pretty much the whole season – and a lot of players in our squad have played a lot of rugby. Our squad has been tested to the max and that is why you have got to have strength in depth.

"But we have come through pretty well, and while we have maybe not been playing the most spectacular rugby, we are building and building and hopefully we'll be in the mix at the end of the season."

Delve, who recently turned 26, is eager to return in the next fortnight after stepping up his training – and is looking forward to taking some of the pressure off Narraway.

"I'm happy with the progress I have made – it has all gone really well," said Delve. "I will pop up and see the surgeon and hopefully get the OK to play in the next few weeks. Naz has done a hell of a lot of hard work – and he came off a tough summer as well where he did really well with England. It will be good for us to have a bit of variation at the back, but also for us to push each other on again.

"Last year, we both drove each other's performances up – and a good thing about last summer was that we were both the starting 8s for our countries on the same day. He played against New Zealand and I played against South Africa.

"It's going to be really good competition – and hopefully we will push each other through."

Narraway, meanwhile, is excited by Sunday's game at Kingsholm, which Gloucester simply need to win to keep alive their hopes of reaching the last eight for the third time in six seasons.

"This is the make or break match for us – without a doubt the biggest and most important game of our season so far," he said.

"If we lose, that will be us very much out of the Heineken Cup – but win on Sunday and we will still be right there in the mix."