Gloucester scrum-half Greig Laidlaw set to return in European Challenge Cup semi-final against La Rochelle

• e-mail

Scotland international Greig Laidlaw is set to return from injury in Gloucester's European Challenge Cup semi-final against La Rochelle on Saturday.

The scrum-half has not played since suffering an ankle injury during Scotland's RBS 6 Nations Championship loss to France 10 weeks ago.

But he has been named among Gloucester's replacements for the trip to Stade Marcel-Deflandre, where the west country club will face a team unbeaten at home this season.

Greig Laidlaw is set to return from injury in Gloucester's European Challenge Cup semi-final

Gloucester rugby director David Humphreys is expecting a stiff challenge against La Rochelle

Changes from the side that beat Aviva Premiership opponents Sale Sharks last weekend see starts for scrum-half Willi Heinz, wing David Halaifonua, lock Tom Savage, flanker Jacob Rowan and number eight Ben Morgan, while Gloucester's starting line-up also includes British and Irish Lions squad member Ross Moriarty.

La Rochelle currently lead the French Top 14 by 10 points, while they comfortably beat Gloucester on home soil during this season's Challenge Cup pool stage, although Gloucester defeated them at Kingsholm a week earlier.

'It's obviously a huge game, and we also know the huge challenge that La Rochelle are going to bring, having played them twice this season,' Gloucester rugby director David Humphreys said.

'When you look at their record, I think until last weekend they had 12 consecutive wins in the Top 14, and that shows the quality of team they have.

The Scotland international has not played since suffering an ankle injury during the France loss

'But our focus has been very much on what we've done over the past four weeks.

'We feel we are in a good place, we've been scoring some good tries and playing some good rugby.

'I think we are all very excited about going to La Rochelle as the underdogs, and almost with much less pressure than previously.'

Another player on the comeback trail is Bath's England international lock Dave Attwood, who starts the Challenge Cup semi-final against Stade Francais in Paris on Sunday following four months out because of a knee injury.

Attwood partners Luke Charteris in the second-row, while Bath's 2017 Lions - Anthony Watson, Jonathan Joseph and Taulupe Faletau - all start.

Bath lock Dave Attwood will start the Challenge Cup semi-final against Stade Francais

Bath director of rugby Todd Blackadder says the side have worked tirelessly ahead of the game

Bath rugby director Todd Blackadder said: 'This is a huge opportunity for the club to make it into a European final, and we will be leaving no stone unturned to progress.

'Stade Francais are a very physical side with world-class players across the park, so we will have to be at our very best to ensure we are on the right side of the result on Sunday.'

The Challenge Cup final takes place at Murrayfield on May 12. Victories for Gloucester and Bath would mean a fifth all-English final in the competition's history, with Bath having contested three of the previous four.