Gloucester will battle to the end

GLOUCESTER may be out of the running for a play-off place, but they will not be coasting in the final four rounds of the Premiership.

- PAUL REES

Director of rugby George Skivington wants his players to have a say in who makes the top four after last weekend's defeat to Bristol at Kingsholm ended their faint hopes of making a late charge up the table.

Gloucester face Saracens and leaders Northampton at home and welcome Exeter to Kingsholm before a home encounter with Newcastle, who cannot move off the bottom of the table, rounds off their league campaign.

"It is really tight at the top and you want to watch every match in what has been an exciting season," said Skivington. "It is great for the game that no one team is dominating and what is frustrating for us is that if we had turned our narrow defeats into wins we would have been in the mix.

"We intend to be competitive regardless of what we can achieve in the table. I think Northampton have been the most impressive team this season: they have been good for a few years now but have added bits to make their game well rounded. I have been very impressed with them.

"The Premiership is in a good spot and there should be a lot of drama in the last four rounds.