At last, on the 29th phase, James Hook loses patience and tries to land a drop goal - but it drifts well wide. A really fascinating period of play, as Bath's defence holds strong and they do enough to force the home side back.

The Cherry and Whites are piling forward, again forcing Bath back towards their own line. Wales prop Richard Hibbard is involved a couple of times, never a man you'd particularly like to see running at you. Gloucester into their 23rd phase...

It's another good kick and Bath are back on level terms. Unsurprisingly, you could almost hear a pin drop as the ball sailed between the sticks.

A decent riposte from Bath though. A good kick from little George Ford eventually ends up putting Gloucester under a wee bit of pressure and they give away a penalty at the breakdown. Now it'll be the England international's turn to have a pop at goal...

It's a ferocious start from the hosts, who have Bath back-pedalling after a clever box kick from Greig Laidlaw. As it happens, the boys in blue, black and white can only shepherd it out and we'll have the first scrum of the evening - five metres from the away side's try line.

And it's pretty straightforward for Scotland scrum-half Greig Laidlaw, who splits the posts with relative ease. An ideal start for Gloucester.

Cherry and Whites fly-half James Hook gets us under way and, within the opening 60 seconds, the home side have a penalty after a Bath player fails to roll away after a tackle.

Caroline Chapman
BBC Sport at Kingsholm

"Cracking atmosphere here. The cries of 'Gloucester' echo all around. And there's more Santas here than on a Christmas weekend in Lapland. Have they not got more important things to be getting on with?"

Goodness me, have you caught your breath yet? The two sides are out at Kingsholm and we're all set for Gloucester v Bath.

Caroline Chapman
BBC Sport at Kingsholm

"Earlier this week, the local West Country papers produced lists of why it's better to be a Gloucester or Bath fan.

"'We've won more trophies than you,' claimed the boys in blue, black and white.

"'We've got a better chant,' say the ones who shout Glaaaaawwwster at the top of their lungs.

"Whichever side you're on, these West Country derbies are the most anticipated games in the Premiership calendar. And, if it's half as tasty as the battle in the East Midlands, we're in for a good time."

Phew, that was quite an East Midlands derby, wasn't it? But the West Country version is now only minutes away.

What can we expect from that one? Let us know, using #bbcrugby on Twitter.

Gloucester: McColl; Sharples, Purdy, Twelvetrees (capt), May; Hook, Laidlaw; Thomas, Hibbard, Afoa; Savage, Palmer; Kalamafoni, Kvesic, Moriarty.

Replacements: Dawidiuk, Wood, Puafisi, Hudson, Stooke, Robson, Atkinson, Halaifonua.

Bath: Watson; Rokoduguni, Joseph, Eastmond, Banahan; Ford, Cook; James, Batty, Wilson; Hooper (capt), Day; Fa'osiliva, Louw, Houston.

Replacements: Webber, Auterac, Thomas, Garvey, Fearns, Young, Devoto, Burgess.

Image source, Getty Images

Having made his first start for Bath against Montpellier last week, Sam Burgess is replaced by fellow cross-coder Kyle Eastmond in the centres for the trip to Kingsholm.

Captain Stuart Hooper is also brought back into the second row.

Gloucester have recalled internationals Sione Kalamafoni, Greig Laidlaw and Tom Palmer.

But Gareth Evans and England number eight Ben Morgan both miss out through injury.

Jeremy Guscott
Former Bath & England centre

"I look at the Bath side at the moment and they have a powerful set of forwards and a skilful, speedy, try-scoring backline, and when you have that at your disposal you have to think you are going to win games."

You can read Jeremy's BBC Sport column on Premiership derby day by clicking here.

Jeremy Guscott
Former Bath & England centre

"Gloucester are a dangerous side, especially when you look at their backline and they have players like Greig Laidlaw, James Hook, Billy Twelvetrees and Charlie Sharples.

"The lift for them will be playing at home against Bath. The fear of losing at home against one of your biggest rivals does not bear thinking about."

You can read Jeremy's BBC Sport column on Premiership derby day by clicking here.

Image source, Getty Images

One rip-roaring local derby down, one to go.

Last time Gloucester and Bath locked horns, two players were red carded and a further five sent to the sin bin in a fiery encounter which saw the men in blue, black and white come out on top by just a single point.

More of the same today? We could be in for a busy couple of hours.

Kick-off at Kingsholm is fast approaching at 17:30 GMT.

Chris Osborne
BBC Sport at Franklin's Gardens

"Remarkable. Stunning. Saints fans are embracing each other after the most unlikeliest of wins. Tigers players stand around bewildered."

Cllr John Potter:, external What a game of rugby this East Mids derby has been!!! Awesome stuff by the Saints #bbcrugby

So Northampton's win takes them six points clear at the top of the Premiership table for now, although Bath can, of course, close that gap if they win at Kingsholm.

Leicester claim a losing bonus point but remain in sixth place.

Image source, Getty Images

Indeed they have! Saints protect the ball as if their lives depend on it to run down the clock and after the Franklin's Gardens crowd count down the closing seconds, the ball is thumped into the stands and JP Doyle blows the final whistle.