JAKE Boer is the man tasked with filling the boots of number eight Gareth Delve as Gloucester travel to Cardiff on Sunday in the LV= Cup semi-final.

The South African starts his first game since before Christmas in the absence of Delve, who plays for Wales in the Six Nations clash against Ireland tomorrow, and the injured Luke Narraway.

Olly Morgan is another notable absentee, replaced by youngster Freddie Burns after injuring himself in England training during the week.

Peter Buxton is back on the blindside after Alasdair Strokosch aggravated his ankle injury last week, while Paul Doran-Jones starts ahead of Pierre Capdevielle at prop, Greg Somerville still out with a broken arm.

Will James and Alex Brown continue at lock, Dave Attwood still struggling with the ankle he turned in training in the build up to the Guinness Premiership clash with Sale.

With Scott Lawson on the bench for Scotland against England tomorrow, Olivier Azam continues at hooker, with Nick Wood completing the front row.

Gloucester's resources are also tested at scrum-half, with Dave Lewis starting and Jordi Pasqualin on the bench, Rory Lawson missing on international duty and Andy Williams after a blow to the head against Wasps last week.

Nicky Robinson starts at fly-half against his former club, with Eliota Fuimaono-Sapolu and captain Mike Tindall in the centres.

James Simpson-Daniel and Lesley Vainikolo complete a dangerous-looking back three alongside Burns.

GLOUCESTER: F Burns; J Simpson-Daniel, M Tindall (capt), E Fuimaono-Sapolu, L Vainikolo; N Robinson, D Lewis; N Wood, O Azam, P Doran-Jones; W James, A Brown; P Buxton, A Qera, J Boer. Reps: D Dawidiuk, R Harden/A Dickinson, P Capdevielle, A Eustace, A Hazell, J Pasqualin, T Molenaar, T Voyce.