Henry Paul will start on the bench for Gloucester when they line up for their Parker Pen European Shield semi-final clash with Sale.

Gloucester boss Nigel Melville has made switches in his midfield, but none of the alterations following last weekend's 41-40 Premiership victory over Bristol include Paul.

Robert Todd, available again after a serving one-match ban following his dismissal for fighting against Wasps earlier this month, returns at centre, so James Simpson-Daniel switches to wing instead of Tom Beim.

Gloucester expect a powerful challenge from fellow Premiership high-flyers Sale, and backs coach Paul Turner has warned the West Country men about the dangers of concentrating solely on stopping England and Lions star Jason Robinson.

Robinson could prove to be the match-winner in what appears a close contest on paper but former Sale coach Turner knows there are threats elsewhere.

"We have got to keep an eye on Jason, but not to the extent of leaving space for a number of their other good players in the backs - that would be foolish," Turner said.

"Some people might have made us slight favourites a few weeks ago, but we hit a bad patch and Sale have been playing some good rugby.

"They are a dangerous side - they have class players at half-back in Charlie Hodgson and Bryan Redpath, and then there is Jason."

Both Gloucester and Sale are well on course to qualify for next season's Heineken Cup, and the same goes for London Irish, who tackle Welsh challengers, Pontypridd in tomorrow's first Shield semi-final at the Kassam Stadium, Oxford.

Irish are buoyant following their stunning Powergen Cup final triumph at Twickenham last Saturday, when they demolished a Northampton side containing 14 internationals 38-7.

And although Pontypridd are one of Welsh rugby's form clubs, they are going to have their work cut out stopping Brendan Venter's Exiles.

"It was a marvellous day at Twickenham, but now we are focused on Pontypridd," said Irish's Welsh international lock Steve Williams.

"We are a performance-driven side and that is how the results tend to come. We have prepared in exactly the same way as we did for Northampton."

Despite most pundits predicting a comfortable Irish success, Williams is well aware that Pontypridd's collection of unsung figures could cause an upset.

"I might not know all the current Pontypridd players, but I do know everything about the Pontypridd attitude, their pride in the jersey and playing for the club," he added.

"Not all clubs are lucky enough to have that element in their teams."

Venter has made three changes from his Cup final line-up, all in the front row.

Injured prop Mike Worsley is replaced by Neal Hatley, while Richard Kirke takes over from hooker Naka Drotske and tight head Simon Halford gains a start instead of Rob Hardwick. Both Drotske and Hardwick are on the bench.