We have to front up for this, says Gloucester's Somerville

Most eyes at Franklin's Gardens will be on one former All Black this afternoon – but it is another whose presence is underpinning Gloucester's bid for Guinness Premiership glory.

While fly-half Carlos Spencer must make do with a place on the bench when he returns to his former club, prop Greg Somerville will be in the thick of the action from the start.

The 31-year-old has only made 10 appearances in the cherry and white, but his impact has been such that head coach Dean Ryan has already labelled him "one of our most significant signings".

As you would expect, the 67-time All Black ticks all the boxes when it comes to the basics of scrummaging and line-out lifting, but it is his work-rate, leadership and tackle-count that mark him out as a class act.

And, after overcoming the detached retina he suffered on his full club debut at London Irish in December, Somerville is ready to play a major role in Gloucester's push for Premiership and EDF Energy Cup success.

"I've got a pretty good feel for it now – how things run week to week," said Somerville.

"From a playing point of view, the big difference is that the Premiership runs for so long. It's all about the management of the squad and the training – that's the big difference.

"Where we come from, the competitions are shorter, so it's a sprint. You can't leave it too late to front in New Zealand, whereas here clubs have to deal with players being away for the Six Nations and so many other things."

Gloucester are yet to win an away match in 2009, and today face a Northampton side who have lost only once at home in their last 31 matches .

But they are still in control of their own play-off destiny – and Somerville wants to help ensure they keep it that way. "I think our away form is a bit of a concern, because you've got to nail a few games away from home to be at the top," he said.

"I'd say it was a bit of a concern – and we have to focus hard on getting that win. We haven't won any away games in 2009, and it just doesn't happen if you are not totally focused and committed.

"But we're not relying on anyone else to beat other teams or anything like that – and we've got to make sure it stays like that.

"It's important we front up this weekend. When you are targeting a win, Northampton looks like one of the harder places to go and do it, so we know it's going to take a massive effort from us.

"But we do need to win it, because if we drop this one we've got two games in one week that we will have to win – and on the back of the EDF final, too.

"If we drop this, we've got a massive ask ahead of us to get into the top four, so this game is vital."

Ryan has made eight changes to the side that beat Ospreys 17-0 in the EDF Energy Cup semi-final a week ago – but notably Somerville is not one of them, keeping his place ahead of Carlos Nieto.

"Greg is probably one of the most significant signings we've made," said Ryan. "We always said he would be under the radar, because as a tighthead prop, you're never someone who attracts massive attention.

"But his credibility and respect within the group is huge for obvious reasons – and then it's backed up on the pitch.

"For a tighthead prop to cover the amount of work he's able to do is incredible. You can see why he's been so successful for so long and was such a loss to the All Blacks.

"We've always said he was brought here to strengthen the senior player group and to take responsibility on the field ,and I've been nothing but really pleased with his input.

"He's not an overly loud individual – he goes about things quite unassumingly – but at the same time he's prepared to take responsibility and put pressure on others to do the same."

Northampton: B Foden; P Diggin, J Ansbro, J Downey, B Reihana (capt); S Myler, L Dickson; S Tonga'uiha, D Hartley, E Murray, C Lawes, J Kruger, N Best, S Gray, R Wilson. Reps: B Sharman, T Smith, I Fernandez Lobbe, M Easter, A Dickens, B Everitt, C Mayor.

Gloucester: O Morgan; M Foster, M Watkins, A Allen, C Sharples; R Lamb, R Lawson; N Wood, O Azam, G Somerville, W James, A Brown, A Strokosch, A Qera, G Delve (capt). Reps: S Lawson, C Nieto, M Bortolami, A Hazell, G Cooper, C Spencer, O Barkley.