HENLEY enter the lion's den on Saturday when they take on Gloucester at Kingsholm in the fifth round of the Tetley's Bitter Cup.

Following their giant-killing victory over Bedford in the previous round, Henley were rewarded - if that is the right word - with a trip to a ground that puts the frighteners on the very best teams.

"Other sides appeared to be overawed by the atmosphere," admitted Richard Hill, Gloucester's director of rugby.

"Gloucester seem to revel in front of a big noisy crowd," added the former Bath and England scrum half, alluding to last Saturday's game at Leicester, when his charges went down only 23-16 to the leaders of the Allied Dunbar Premiership.

Generally, however, the 'Cherry and Whites' seem a soft touch away from home - but at Kingsholm they are virtually unbeatable. The good news for Henley is that Kingsholm is likely to be only half-full for the visit of the Oxfordshire side who have enjoyed a dream season.

"We were certainly shocked when we heard the Bedford result," said Hill. "To win at Bedford was no mean feat and it helped to alert us as to what Henley can do. We won't be taking them lightly. Indeed, in our position we can't understimate any team."

Hill has not had Henley watched. "At the moment, we're more concerned about sorting out a game plan that suits our players. So far we haven't found one."

However, Hill reckons he knows Henley's strengths and weaknesses "by word of mouth", but understandably declines to elaborate.

Gloucester's strength is their powerful pack, despite the prolonged absence through injury of England prop Phil Vickery and Wales flanker Kingsley Jones.

Their best known name is the former French captain Philippe Saint-Andre. But Henley are used to dealing with world-class left wings - after all Rory Underwood was in the Bedford line-up and hardly got a sniff of the ball.

This Saturday, one feels, will be something else!

Story date: Wednesday 27 January

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