Ryan implores Gloucester to do it the hard way

The Gloucester coach, Dean Ryan, has demanded his players become masters of their own destiny by defeating Sale in today's wildcard showdown.

The Gloucester coach, Dean Ryan, has demanded his players become masters of their own destiny by defeating Sale in today's wildcard showdown.

A spot in the Twickenham final on 29 May is the prize for the winners at Kingsholm, with the successful team at HQ securing qualification for next season's Heineken Cup. Gloucester could still gain a passage into Europe if they lost but would require favour- able results in next weekend's Parker Pen Challenge and Heineken Cup finals.

This gives the Cherry and Whites a useful back-up should their game plan go awry today - but for Ryan there is only one way his side should be looking to clinch their place among Europe's élite. "We have to win tomorrow. It's simple; a win puts us in the final of the Wildcard and then we know what we have to do," said the former England No 8. "There is no way that we want to hang our hopes on next weekend's European games - we have to keep qualification in our control."

Ryan's sentiments were echoed by the England scrum-half Andy Gomarsall. "We're not in Europe yet so this is a must-win game. We have to get into the Heineken Cup as it's such a high level of competition - our season wouldn't be the same without it," he said.

Gloucester have made three changes up front following last Saturday's 41-7 capitulation to Bath at the Recreation Ground. The No 8 Peter Buxton replaces Junior Paramore, who is nursing a damaged nose, while Andy Hazell is handed the No 7 shirt following his recent stint on the bench. Adam Eustace partners Alex Brown in the second row - Mark Cornwell moves to the bench - while the full-back Riaan van der Bergh features among the substitutes after missing out against Bath with influenza.

The England prop Trevor Woodman is named in Gloucester's front row even though he has agreed to join the Sharks next season. Sale make just one alteration to the side which overcame Leeds 31-20 last weekend, replacing the injured club captain, Pete Anglesea, with Phil Davies in the back row.

Leicester face Harlequins in the second wildcard semi-final at Welford Road. Daryl Gibson is the only change to the side which dismantled Wasps - the former All Black returns at inside centre with the England back Ollie Smith dropping to the bench.

Will Greenwood and Jason Leonard both return to the Quins team. The former is back after overcoming a shoulder injury, while Leonard has recovered from a foot problem.