Instead of running out at Murrayfield for his first full cap for England, Danny Cipriani will be on the bench for his club this weekend.

The Wasps fly-half returned to training with the Londoners today after being unceremoniously dumped by England coach Brian Ashton after being spotted leaving a wine bar in the early hours of yesterday morning.

Cipriani was welcomed back into the fold by Wasps director of rugby Ian McGeechan but told that, because he had not trained with the team in the week, there would be no place in the starting line-up for him in Sunday's Guinness Premiership clash with Harlequins.

"Dave Walder had already been told he was going to start this game and we were not about to change that decision having made it," explained McGeechan.

"Danny is just pleased to be in the 22 and we are delighted to have him."

All the Premiership's top three teams will be in action on Saturday, with leaders Gloucester forced to field a depleted side against form team London Irish.

Gloucester are without no fewer than 10 players because of the internationals and coach Dean Ryan, who will hand a Premiership debut to lock Dan Tuohy, admitted: "I have never known our resources stretched so far because of our contribution to international sides.

"We want to create an environment where players push for international honours but it has made our task even more difficult ahead of this game.

"But there is massive motivation for us to win a game that has big odds stacked against it.

"We are up against the form side in the country and that is plenty of motivation."

Tuohy, an Ireland Under-21 international who has made 10 appearances on loan at Moseley this season, gets his chance because Alex Brown has a broken jaw.

Gloucester have led the table since round 21 of last season but they have won only one of their last four matches.

The Exiles, on the other hand, can boast five successive wins and have high hopes of claiming only their second win at Kingsholm.

"Our recent run of form has given us good momentum going into the game and we're optimistic that we can get a result," said Irish director of rugby Brian Smith.

South African full-back Thinus Delport will make his 100th Premiership appearance as Worcester look to follow up their shock win at Sale by claiming the scalp of champions Leicester.

"Thinus is the ultimate professional," said Worcester director of rugby Mike Ruddock. "He is a great player who has played some fantastic rugby this season, many would say the best of his career.

"He is Mr Dependable and Mr Reliable for us, a great role model for the rest of the squad.

"He will want to turn in a great performance to mark his 100th appearance in the top flight and everyone at the club wishes to congratulate him for hitting this important milestone."

Third-placed Bath must maintain their challenge for the title without influential flanker Andy Beattie, who suffered a complicated knee injury in last week's win over Bristol which will sideline him for the rest of the season.

Coach Steve Meehan admits the loss of Beattie is a body blow and has called for the rest of the leaders in the team to step up against Newcastle on Saturday.

"We will miss him," he said. "He gets everyone geared up and is very vocal in the changing room before the game and on the field. The guys will obviously step up into that role.

"I don't want them to be exactly like Andy Beattie because we want them to play as themselves but the team must be aware that he has been a very central and key player in this team for some years."

The Falcons slipped to ninth after their match with Wasps was postponed last week and director of rugby John Fletcher admits time is running out if they are to claim a place in Europe.

"We need some wins," said Fletcher. "We need to be pushing up this table to fulfil our goal of Heineken Cup qualification and this game is vital in that mission."

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