Vainikolo can have impact - Ryan

The West Country side have also signed Scotland's Chris Paterson, who enjoyed a 100 per cent record with the boot during the World Cup and is statistically the most successful kicker in the Six Nations.

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"Vainikolo has been robbed of a bit of experience because a neck injury has meant he has not played for four to five weeks, and he would have liked to have had that going into the premier tournament, but he will make a positive impact and I hope everyone will be watching him," said Ryan.

"Without doubt Vainikolo will make an impact on the tournament and names such as Paterson will be hugely there too, but how quickly others get up to speed will be defined in the next couple of weeks too.

"It has been difficult because of the World Cup and a lot of our new recruits have been late coming to us. It is key how we integrate them over the next few weeks and we obviously have the pressures of the Heineken Cup.

"We want to get them in but at the same time we have got to ensure they are up to speed with what we are trying to do.

"The stats say Chris Paterson is the most successful kicker and he had a fantastic World Cup - I am sure that will be crucial over such a tight campaign."

Gloucester start with a trip to face Ulster and also have the Ospreys and Bourgoin in their pool.

"For our particular pool we have a tough opener, going to Ravenhill on a Friday night where we know they have a fantastic European record and are very proud of that," said Ryan.

"Their record is over a number of years and will be hard to get over. That will be a sign of whether we have learned lessons from previous campaigns and can bring them forward into this one.

"We acknowledge that where we were as a side last year, we found the Heineken Cup a bit of a step up. We were exposed in the first couple of games, but our progress in it showed we learned some lessons and the key is whether we can transfer it into this year.

"The Ospreys are the form side in the Magners League and have obviously recruited to have a go for the Heineken Cup.

"We see both games as being crucial, we have to get a home win and if we can get anything on the road then we have a chance of getting through.

"Bourgoin are fanatically proud at home, a big side and hard to beat. It depends how they go in the early fixtures, but I see them as a big hurdle."