Eighth-place Harlequins welcome second-place Bath to The Twickenham Stoop tonight (19:45 BST) with plenty on the line as the season heads to a conclusion.
Indeed, if Bath beat Harlequins, they will confirm their first semi-final appearance in five seasons. However, although Harlequins hopes of a top four spot have already been ended, a defeat for them here would also end their slim hopes of catching the Wasps (who are nine point in front) in order to qualify for next season’s Champions Cup.
Mike Ford’s Bath, are clear favourites coming into this tie having won their last four consecutive league matches, while beating Harlequins twice already this season: with a 25-6 win in the reverse fixture at the Recreation Ground in November, and a slender 23-21 victory in the LV= Cup in January.
That said, Harlequins have hit some form of late, winning three of their last four league fixtures, and did earn a narrow 19-16 victory in this fixture last season.
Best Bet: Harlequins +5 Handicap – Evens at SkyBet
David Wilson returns for Bath tonight, after recovering from a nasty neck injury that ruled him out of the Six Nations for England. David Attwood and Dominic Day will also line-up together for the first time since January. Elsewhere, Horacio Agulla will be on the right win and Anthony Watson will feature at full-back.
It will be a farewell appearance for Ugo Monye and George Robson for Harlequins, as they make their final appearance for the club.
Harlequins: 15 Ollie Lindsay-Hague, 14 Marland Yarde, 13 George Lowe, 12 Harry Sloan, 11 Ugo Monye, 10 Nick Evans, 9 Danny Care; 1 Mark Lambert, 2 Dave Ward, 3 Matt Shields, 4 Nick Easter, 5 George Robson, 6 Luke Wallace, 7 Chris Robshaw (c), 8 Jack Clifford.
Replacements: 16 Rob Buchanan, 17 Seb Adeniran-Olule, 18 Darryl Marfo, 19 Charlie Matthews, 20 Netani Talei, 21 Karl Dickson, 22 Ben Botica, 23 Charlie Walker.
Bath: 15 Anthony Watson, 14 Horacio Agulla, 13 Jonathan Joseph, 12 Kyle Eastmond, 11 Matt Banahan, 10 George Ford, 9 Peter Stringer; 1 Paul James, 2 Ross Batty, 3 David Wilson, 4 Dave Attwood, 5 Dominic Day, 6 Sam Burgess, 7 Francois Louw (c), 8 Leroy Houston.
Replacements: 16 Rob Webber, 17 Nick Auterac, 18 Max Lahiff, 19 Matt Garvey, 20 Carl Fearns, 21 Chris Cook, 22 Ollie Devoto, 23 Tom Homer.
Betfair:
Bet on Henrik Stenson to become the BMW PGA Championship Winner.
Paddypower:
Back Australia to take the Ashes home with them.
Betway:
Back Rafael Nadal to become the Mens French Open Winner.
Coral:
Back One For Arthur to win the Grand National.
Bet365:
Back Mexico to win the Confederations Cup.
