Mike Tindall, England's vice-captain at the World Cup and a central character in the Queenstown bar shenanigans, returns to action with Gloucester on Saturday accompanied by a warning that the clock is ticking on his club career.

Tindall is out of contract at the end of the season and his head coach at Kingsholm, Bryan Redpath, said on Wednesday that he expected an immediate impact from the 33-year-old in the home game against Saracens.

"He hasn't struck a blow in anger this year for Gloucester," Redpath said, confirming that Tindall would be in the squad.

"This is going to be his first chance to play, play and develop and then put his hand up and say I want to play more, I want to play well and want to keep playing rugby. If Mike plays well there is no reason not to keep him on for another year but, if he doesn't, then we sit down and have a discussion and I say: 'Mate, it's not right for Gloucester rugby.'"

Tindall is one of 24 Gloucester players out of contract at the end of the season and Redpath said that while it is understandable, given his profile as an England player with 75 caps as well as being husband of the Queen's granddaughter, that Tindall's future causes extra interest, "it's got nothing to do with the person".

He said: "Every player that is out of contract has an opportunity to play well to further his career here. He has done well to stay in that [England] mix. He's a battler … it's one of his strengths, his durability. He's had a lot of knocks but he's got the mental strength to take the criticism and keep going."

Alongside Tindall at some point on Saturday with be Eliota Fuimaono-Sapolu, the Samoan centre whose return to Gloucester was delayed by the string of on-off disciplinary hearings that followed criticism of the Welsh referee Nigel Owens and the World Cup itinerary forced on Samoa by the International Rugby Board.

After threatening to retire he has agreed to pay a fine of around £500 and accepted a suspended sentence.