Gloucester director of rugby Nigel Melville is relishing the chance to face his former club again in the BBC televised clash on January 22.

By then he should have England pair Phil Vickery (fractured eye socket) and James Simpson-Daniel (shoulder) back from injury.

And after beating Leicester Tigers 20-13 at Welford Road on Saturday Gloucester will be confident at home.

Melville said: "We wanted a home game and we got one. It'll be interesting to play Wasps in November, December and now January. Everyone knows what games are like between us, and I'm sure it'll capture the imagination of the supporters and we'll have a good crowd for the game."

Previous Cup Meetings:

11/3/1978 – Quarter-final - Wasps 3, Gloucester 13 (Sudbury)

13/2/1988 - Rd 4 - Gloucester 13, Wasps 24 (Kingsholm)

27/1/1990 - Rd 3 - Wasps 19, Gloucester 23 (Sudbury)

24/2/1996 – Quarter-final - Gloucester 22, Wasps 9 (Kingsholm)

4/4/1999 – Semi-final - Wasps 35, Gloucester 21 (Loftus Road)

Bath heading into Shark territory

Bath Rugby Head Coach John Connolly admits a trip to Sale Sharks’ Edgeley Park is not the easiest of draws.

After a convincing 33-7 victory over NEC Harlequins at the weekend, Bath want a Twickenham return following last May’s Zurich Premiership final defeat to win some silverware.

“It is a very tough draw for us,” said Connolly. “Sale are a good side containing some outstanding players and we will have to be at our best when we travel up to Edgeley Park next month. We are facing them in the Zurich Premiership a week today and we know what to expect from them – they are a very dangerous side.”

“We are taking this competition very seriously indeed,” said Club Captain Jonathan Humphreys. “We had a taste of Twickenham last year with the Zurich Premiership Final and would love to return there with a shot of silverware this time around. Of course there is that added incentive of a place in the Heineken Cup and that is an obvious target for us.”

Sale director of rugby Philippe Saint-Andre said: “We are delighted with the draw and look forward to playing Bath twice in four weeks at Edgeley Park.”

Previous Cup Meeting:

9/3/1985 – Quarter-final - Sale 15, Bath 25 (Heywood Road)

Tykes target first Franklin’s win

Leeds Tykes will have to break their Franklin’s Gardens duck to reach the semi-finals of the Powergen Cup.

The Tykes have never won at Northampton Saints in four attempts in all competitions, while this will be only the second time the two teams have met in the Cup, the last coming in 2000 when the Tykes were in National Division One and lost 73-35.

Leeds Director of Rugby Phil Davies said: “It will be tough challenge travelling to Franklin’s Gardens.  We play each other in the Zurich Premiership on New Year’s Day so both teams will know each other and I’m sure it will be a tight game.  We have never won there so that is another challenge for us and hopefully we can build up some momentum going into that game.”

“They have had their problems this season but they seem to have turned a corner now and they are a club with a rich Cup tradition.  We reached the semi final last season and that was a great experience for us, if we want to do that again we will have to meet the challenge from Northampton.”

Previous Cup Meeting:

4/11/2000 - Rd 4 - Northampton 73, Leeds Tykes 35 (Franklin’s Gardens)

Irish on the road again

London Irish are on the road again and coach Gary Gold knows the importance of victory at Saracens’ Vicarage Road.

Irish ground out a 9-7 win at Worcester on Saturday to become the first side in history to reach eight successive quarter-finals.

They have now won five of their last away Cup ties and Gold said:  “Glory and silverware are so hard to come by in this country that every game is important. Plus, the Cup is a great route into Europe.

"We have been drawn away again, this time against a resurgent Saracens.  Matches with our North London friends and rivals are always very competitive, especially at Vicarage Road.  I'm sure that this one with the added spice of a Cup semi-final place at stake, will be no different."

Previous Cup Meetings:

17/10/1971 - Rd 1 - London Irish 3, Saracens 26 (The Avenue)

22/11/1975 - Rd 1 - London Irish 16, Saracens 3 (The Avenue)

5/12/1981 - Rd 2 - London Irish 19, Saracens 3 (The Avenue)