TODAY
GLOUCESTER v BATH, 3pm The usual warm welcome awaits Bath at a packed Kingsholm, with Gloucester desperate to make amends for their 38-9 defeat at Harlequins a fortnight ago. That defeat saw them slump to seventh in the table and Jake Boer, the club captain, fails to make the squad. Phil Vickery takes over the captaincy and James Forrester comes into the back row. Bath have been ravaged by injuries and call up James Scaysbrook and Geraint Lewis, the flankers.
HARLEQUINS v WORCESTER, 2pm A battle for breathing space at the bottom. Harlequins hinted at a resurgence with their victory over Gloucester, while Worcester have won four of their past six Premiership matches. For Harlequins, Mel Deane has a torn stomach muscle, so George Harder partners Gavin Duffy at centre, and Tani Fuga replaces the suspended Ace Tiatia at hooker. Ben Hinshelwood returns from international duty with Scotland for Worcester, with Giscard Pieters on the bench.
LEICESTER v NEWCASTLE FALCONS, 3pm (live on Sky Sports 2) Newcastle were thumped 44-15 at home in early October by a Leicester side that was just beginning to throw its weight around. The leaders have not been beaten in the league since and have Martin Corry back at No 8. Mathew Tait is not the only 19-year-old in the Newcastle back division, as Toby Flood prepares to make his second start at full back after an auspicious debut in the victory over London Wasps a fortnight ago.
TOMORROW
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SARACENS v LONDON IRISH, 3pm Two teams travelling in opposite directions. Saracens have not been beaten in the Premiership since November, while Irish have lost their past five league matches. The home side are unchanged from the one that scraped a 21-20 victory over Northampton two weeks ago. The exiles welcome Robbie Russell, the hooker, back from international duty with Scotland and recall Justin Bishop to the wing.
LONDON WASPS v NORTHAMPTON, 3pm Wasps have been waning, having slipped to third in the table after defeats to Bath and Newcastle, but their plight pales compared with that of Northampton, whose defeat to Saracens put them back at the bottom. Paul Sackey comes into the home side on the right wing after his move from London Irish. Marc Stcherbina returns at centre for Northampton and Billy Fulton, the new scrum half, starts on the bench.