That was a long opening few minutes, with neither side in any hurry to get the ball into touch. Finally the ball goes dead when Northampton infringe at the breakdown.

It's going to be a tactical battle tonight.

Kick after kick after kick early on so far in these opening few minutes as both teams are trying to force the opposition into a mistake in the wind.

Gloucester's Billy Twelvetrees gets us underway at Franklin's Gardens. Here we go.

The teams are coming out in the wet and windy East Midlands. We're about to find out a lot about how these teams can deal with testing conditions tonight.

And, remember, we've got those wintry months ahead of us yet...

Visitors Gloucester will welcome back England winger Jonny May, while Mariano Galarza is included as a replacement for the first time in this campaign.

Rob Cook starts at full-back and scrum-half Will Heinz replaces Greig Laidlaw.

Image source, BBC Sport

Replacements: Dawidiuk, Thomas, Doran-Jones, Galarza, Kalamafoni, Laidlaw, Purdy, Rowan.

Northampton Saints have replaced scrum-half Lee Dickson with Kahn Fotuali'i for Friday's Premiership home match against Gloucester.

Among the replacements are Victor Matfield, who could make his debut if brought on, and the returning Ken Pisi.

Image source, BBC Sport

Replacements: Williams, E Waller, Hill, Matfield, Harrison, Dickson, Hanrahan, K Pisi.

Image source, Getty Images

Gloucester also come into this match having won twice in the European break - beating Zebre and Stade Rochelais in the Challenge Cup over the last two weekends.

In the Premiership, Gloucester have defeated bottom club Newcastle and newly-promoted Worcester, but defeats by Saracens and Wasps leave them a place above Northampton in the table.

Northampton have had a decidedly sluggish start to the campaign.

Image source, Getty Images

Last season's Premiership semi-finalists find themselves languishing 10th in the table having won just one of their opening four league matches of the season.

But, after two victories put them top of their European Champions Cup pool and star wing George North putting speculation over his future to bed with a new contract, tonight it's time to find out if the tide is truly turning.

Image source, Getty Images

One man who would have no problem fending off the Black Friday crowds is South Africa legend Victor Matfield.

The 38-year-old 6ft 7ins lock is the Springboks' all-time record Test appearance holder and World Cup winner.

Tonight he could make his Northampton Saints and Premiership debut if he comes off the bench against the Cherry and Whites, having joined Jim Mallinder's side on a one-year contract in September.

Image source, Getty Images

Tonight's Premiership action could have an air of familiarity for those who have pounded the high streets of Britain today.

Black Friday - when retail prices fall through the floor - has the potential to bring scrums of desperate shoppers to close quarters, the occasional illegal tackle over a plasma TV and, ultimately, a high turnover for the shops.

At Franklin's Garden's it's not a new waffle maker people are fighting over, it's precious Premiership points.

Welcome to our live text of Northampton v Gloucester.