The pressure is piling up with just three rounds of fixtures remaining ahead of the play-offs in the 2014/15 Aviva Premiership season, as the battle for a spot in the top four still continues.
There are some interesting clashes this weekend, including first v second as the Saints face Saracens at stadium:mk on Saturday, while there’s a key play-off crunch match at Twickenham on Sunday as the Wasps take on Exeter Chiefs.
Bath v London Irish – Friday 19:45 (GMT)
In the weekend’s opening fixture, Bath welcome back Kyle Eastmond, James Webber and Paul James to their starting line-up as they face London Irish.
Bath have dominated this fixture in recent years, winning nine of the last 10 meetings between the sides. Another win here for the Somerset side would all-but assure them of their play-off position.
Although struggling in 10th-place, London Irish don’t tend to get beaten heavily often, meaning a handicap bet on them could provide some good value.
Best Bet: London Irish to win with +15 handicap – 6/4 at BetVictor
Sale Sharks v Harlequins – Saturday 14:00 (GMT)
Seventh meets eighth at The Recreation Ground, with the play-offs pretty much out of reach for the pair. However, the Sharks still have an outside chance of securing a Champions Cup place if they can end the season on a high.
The Sharks edged out the Harlequins when the pair last met in November by a narrow 16-12 scorline.
Verdict: Sharks win
Gloucester v Newcastle Falcons – Saturday 15:00 (GMT)
Neither side has much left to play for this campaign other than pride, with Gloucester in ninth and the Falcons languishing one place above bottom spot.
Newcastle Falcons have recorded just four victories this seasons – one of which was a 20-10 victory over Gloucester, but you’d expect Gloucester to get revenge here.
Verdict: Gloucester win
Leicester Tigers v London Welsh – Saturday 15:00 (GMT)
Leicester’s five-game winning streak in the Premiership was ended last time out by the Saracens, but they should have little bother getting back to winning ways against the Welsh who have picked up just one point this season.
Verdict: Leicester win
Northampton Saints v Saracens – Saturday 15:15 (GMT)
A record crowd is expected at stadium:mk as the top two go head-to-head in this crucial encounter.
Saracens suffered semi-final heartbreak in the European Rugby Champions Cup last weekend, being narrowly beaten 13-9 by Clermont – who incidentally also disposed of the Saints in the previous round.
Saints boast a relatively comfortable six-point lead at the table summit at the moment, meaning Saracens will have to beat them – as they did in the Anglo-Welsh Cup in March – if they want to be in with a chance of ending the regular season in top spot.
Verdict: Saints win
Wasps v Exeter Chiefs – Sunday 14:00 (GMT)
The weekend’s action concludes with an intriguing play-off crunch match between the Wasps and Exeter Chiefs at Twickenham on Sunday.
The fourth-place Chiefs are currently three points clear of Leicester Tigers in fifth – who will surely beat the Welsh – and five points clear of their opponents. A win for the Wasps, therefore, could really blow the chase for the play-offs wide open, while a win for Exeter would effectively end Wasps’ hopes.
Verdict: Wasps win
