Gloucester’s Challenge Cup opposition this weekend are something of an unknown quantity, George Skivington warned, with the French club having been promoted into the topflight this summer for the first time in their history.

Brittany side Vannes currently sit bottom of the French Top 14 having won two of their nine games this season and got off to an inauspicious start on their European adventure with a 22-19 defeat away at Georgian side Black Lion last weekend, but Cherry and Whites director of rugby George Skivington is expecting a highly motivated opposition on their own patch on Saturday.

Skivington said: “We don’t really know them. We have watched their games, but no one in the building has played over in Vannes so it is an unknown. I know they are very passionate about their rugby and very excited to be in this European competition this season and they are making a big deal out of it. We have got to get prepared for that.”

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Last season’s beaten finalists Gloucester got their campaign underway with a hard-fought, gritty 15-10 win over Edinburgh on Friday night as Storm Darragh blew around Kingsholm.

The Cherry and Whites welcome back a trio of players from injury with Cam Jordan, George Barton and Jake Morris all named in the starting XV. Chris Harris captains the side from outside centre, with Will Butler, who made his club debut last weekend, inside him.

Amongst the replacements is a potential first-team debut for Academy graduate winger Jack Cotgreave. In reserve for the forwards are Gareth Blackmore, Archie McArthur, Alfie Petch, Deian Gwynne and Caio James.

RC Vannes: 15. Paul Surano, 14. Enzo Benmegal, 13. Robin Taccola, 12. Tani Vili, 11. Romaric Camou, 10. Maxime Lafage, 9. Michael Ruru, 1. Mako Vunipola, 2. Theo Beziat, 3. Simon Bourgeois, 4. Anton Bresler, 5. Timothe Mezou, 6. Karl Chateau, 7. Francisco Gorrissen (c), 8. Sione Kalamafoni

Replacements : 16. Cyril Blanchard, 17. Charlesty Berguet, 18. Santiago Medrano, 19. Eric Marks, 20. Fabrice Metz, 21. Simon Augry, 22. Jules Lebail, 23. Inaki Ayarza

Gloucester Rugby : 15. Ioan Jones, 14. Jacob Morris, 13. Chris Harris (c), 12. Seb Atkinson, 11. Jack Reeves, 10. George Barton, 9. Charlie Chapman, 1. Mayco Vivas, 2. Morgan Nelson, 3. Kirill Gotovtsev, 4. Freddie Clarke, 5. Cameron Jordan, 6. Danny Eite, 7. Harry Taylor, 8. Albert Tuisue

Replacements: 16. Gareth Blackmore, 17. Archie McArthur, 18. Alfie Petch, 19. Deian Gwynne, 20. Caio James, 21. Caolan Englefield, 22. Rory Taylor, 23. Jack Cotgreave