Spencer has recovered from the calf strain that kept him out of last week’s East Midlands derby victory at Welford Road but with Stephen Myler retaining the fly-half shirt, the former All Black will play at full-back.

It will be Spencer’s first outing in that position for the Saints, and his inclusion means that captain Bruce Reihana starts on the right wing. And Sean Lamont misses out on the squad altogether with a leg strain sustained during training, as does Paul Diggin, also through injury.

“It was always an option we’d looked at,” said head coach Paul Grayson. “Stephen Myler did well last week and deserved to keep his place. And with Sean Lamont and Paul Diggin both injured Bruce Reihana’s playing on the wing helps us out.

“Los is as good a broken-play runner as anyone in the world and if Gloucester kick badly he could have some fun.

“If we play with the attitude we had at Leicester and play without fear hopefully we’ll do ourselves justice this week. Gloucester are a very good team but if we acquit ourselves like we did last Saturday it’ll be a close game.”

Robbie Kydd is also back from Scotland ‘A’ duty and will play at inside-centre with Seamus Mallon keeping his place at 13. Kydd replaces David Quinlan, who has not recovered from a bout of sickness during the week.

Up front the pack is bolstered by the return of French international second row David Gerard following a six-week absence. With Christian Short being banned by the club for one week for his stamping on Paul Volley, Gerard’s return from injury is timely.

“It’s good to be back,” Gerard said. “The last six weeks was not good for me and I couldn’t wait to come back to the team. I want to do everything I can to help the team and the club and when you’re injured you can’t do that. But now I’m back.

“Sometimes in the last few weeks we have played well but lost. But now we are more confident and we just want to beat Gloucester.”

Gerard’s former Toulouse team-mate Christian Labit, who signed for Northampton earlier in the week, could make his first club appearance having been named on the bench. He is joined by compatriot Matthieu Bourret and fellow back-rower Ben Lewitt.

“Christian brings good experience,” said Gerard. “For 14 years he has played in the Top 14 and for six years in the Heineken Cup. He’s a huge team-mate and it’s a pleasure to play with him again.”

NORTHAMPTON SAINTS TEAM TO PLAY GLOUCESTER
Franklin’s Gardens, Saturday, March 3, 2007
(Internationals in CAPS)
15 CARLOS SPENCER
14 BRUCE REIHANA (capt)
13 Seamus Mallon
12 Robbie Kydd
11 BEN COHEN
10 Stephen Myler
9 MARK ROBINSON
1 TOM SMITH
2 Dylan Hartley
3 SOANE TONGA’UHIA
4 DAVID GERARD
5 Damien Browne
6 PAUL TUPAI
7 Darren Fox
8 Mark Hopley

Replacements
16 MATIAS CORTESE
17 Chris Budgen
18 Matt Lord
19 CHRISTIAN LABIT
20 Ben Lewitt
21 Johnny Howard
22 Matthieu Bourret