Tindall, who was recalled to England’s senior squad earlier this week ahead of the RBS 6 Nations Championship, accepts elimination beckons if Cardiff triumph at Kingsholm.

A Gloucester victory would keep them on track for the quarter-finals ahead of facing Biarritz in France next Friday night.

But Pool Six leaders the Blues are first up, and Tindall said: “We all realise that if we don’t win this game then we are not going through.

“They (Cardiff) have Calvisano after this game, and that is at home, so it is almost a given they will get five points from that.

“We have to win our next two games - it is as simple as that.

“If we can get two wins and eight points, we will probably go through. If we get nine points, then we should top the pool.”

Gloucester welcome back a fit-again Iain Balshaw, while wing James Simpson-Daniel is on the bench for a potential first appearance since October.