GLOUCESTER will field as close to a full strength side as possible for their opening match of the 2010-11 Aviva Premiership against Exeter at Sandy Park today.

The match will be a landmark moment in the history of the Devon outfit as it is their first-ever game in the top flight after clinching promotion from the Championship in May.

But they will come up against an experienced Cherry and Whites side, with head coach Bryan Redpath able to welcome back several key players who were used sparingly in pre-season.

Skipper Mike Tindall will lead the side after recovering from a tight hamstring, while fly-half Nicky Robinson is fit again after playing just 30 minutes in pre-season due to a calf problem.

Only young full-back/fly-half Freddie Burns, prop Paul Doran-Jones and new lock Jim Hamilton are missing from the matchday 23 because of injury.

Bryan Redpath's side have enjoyed a promising summer campaign following wins over the Scarlets and the Ospreys, coupled with a defeat to Munster.

And Redpath says the trips to the Liberty Stadium and Musgrave Park to face the Magners League teams have prepared his side perfectly for the journey to Exeter.

"It's why we played Ospreys and Munster away – two challenging grounds," said the Scot.

"It will be a great atmosphere and huge credit to Exeter for what they've achieved.

"We've got to focus properly. The big challenge is our away form.

"We need to get our head around that and today is when it starts.

"We have to make sure that we are mentally tough for the game."

The Chiefs have recruited swiftly to strengthen their squad in preparation for the new season and there is sure to be a lively and passionate atmosphere come 3pm.

Gloucester's only defeat on the opening weekend of a new Premiership season since 2000/01 was a 20-8 loss at home to Leicester in 2008.

The two clubs have met just twice before in competitive rugby, both times at Kingsholm, with Gloucester victorious on both occasions.

First was a 34-3 win in the fourth round of the John Player Cup in February 1982 and then a 35-6 victory in the Powergen Cup in 2002.

Team: O Morgan; J Simpson-Daniel, M Tindall (capt), E Fuimaono-Sapolu, L Vainikolo; N Robinson, D Lewis; N Wood, S Lawson, P Capdevielle; D Attwood, A Brown; P Buxton, A Qera, L Narraway. Replacements: O Azam, A Dickinson, R Harden, W James, A Strokosch, J Pasqualin, T Taylor, T Molenaar.

■ Match lowdown, p39