Vickery last played in February, when he suffered a serious arm injury during a Premiership clash with west country rivals Bath.

It ended his RBS 6 Nations hopes with England, and also wrecked any prospect he had of making the British & Irish Lions tour to New Zealand.

But after an extensive rehabilitation period, Vickery, who recently became a father for the first time, will return to action when Calvisano visit Kingsholm.

I know I start virtually from scratch, but I just want to get out there, get on with it and get some matches under my belt, said the England World Cup winner.

I want to play as many games as I can. It has obviously been tremendously frustrating, but I just want to get on with the season.

It has been a good summer for me, and I am positive, looking forward to it.

There is no comeback yet though for new Gloucester signing Mike Tindall, Vickerys England colleague, who also missed the Lions trip because of injury.

Gloucester head coach Dean Ryan parades summer arrivals Rob Thirlby and Haydn Thomas in the starting XV, while two more - Peter Richards and Patrice Collazo - are on the bench.