SECOND row Elliott Stooke will face his former club as he makes his first start for Bath in the Aviva Premiership West Country derby against Gloucester at Kingsholm (3pm).

Stooke packs down alongside Charlie Ewels, with another former Gloucester man, Dave Attwood, shifting to the bench.

Tom Dunn starts at hooker, with Nathan Catt and Henry Thomas packing down either side of him.

Matt Garvey, handed the co-captain’s armband alongside George Ford, starts in the back-row with Tom Ellis on the openside and Leroy Houston at number eight.

Ford and Kahn Fotuali’i continue in the half-backs, with Matt Banahan and recent signing Aled Brew at centre.

The back three is the same as in the defeat to Leicester last week – Tom Homer at full-back, and Anthony Watson and Semesa Rokoduguni, who has scored four tries in four appearances so far this season, on the wings.

Director of rugby Todd Blackadder said: “We’re obviously really keen to bounce back from last weekend and what better what to do that than with a West Country derby?

"We’ve rotated the squad slightly, with Elliott and Tom starting, and we know they will both be really eager to put in strong performances, especially Elliott against his former club.

“The co-captaincy between George and Matt has been happening on the field already this season and is a partnership that is working well for us.

"They both have great leadership qualities, and obviously each have their own areas of expertise – Matt with the forwards and technical aspects, and George with running the game and the wider look at things.”

Bath: 15. Tom Homer, 14. Semesa Rokoduguni, 13. Aled Brew, 12. Matt Banahan, 11. Anthony Watson, 10. George Ford (captain), 9. Kahn Fotuali’i, 1. Nathan Catt, 2. Tom Dunn, 3. Henry Thomas, 4. Charlie Ewels, 5. Elliott Stooke, 6. Matt Garvey (captain), 7. Tom Ellis, 8. Leroy Houston.

Replacements: 16. Ross Batty, 17. Nick Auterac, 18. Kane Palma-Newport, 19. Dave Attwood, 20. Zach Mercer, 21. Chris Cook, 22. Rory Jennings, 23. Jeff Williams.