Quins v Gloucester

Kick-off 3pm today

Venue Stoop Memorial Ground

Last year Harlequins 6 - 18 Gloucester

Last five matches Quins: LWLDW Glos: WWWWW

Gloucester are tipped to be Leicester's closest challengers for the title and after piling up 56 points at Newport in a friendly match, they will have no fears about travelling to Quins, who had the worst home record in the league last season. Henry Paul is at outside-half for Quins while Nathan Williams makes his debut. Their new backs' coach Paul Turner will want to put one over his former club, but it looks like another slow start for Harlequins.

Newcastle v Wasps

Kick-off 3pm tomorrow

Venue Kingston Park

Last year Newcastle 22 - 33 Wasps

Last five matches Newcastle: WWWLL Wasps: WWWWL

Liam Botham is at full-back for Newcastle in the place of the injured Dave Walder while the wing Joe Shaw makes his debut after signing from Northampton. The former Wales scrum-half Rob Howley makes his bow for Wasps who have Kenny Logan (left) in place of Paul Sampson on the wing. Wasps rallied under their rugby director Warren Gatland in the second half of last season and should be too strong for Newcastle up front.

Bristol v Saracens

Kick-off 3pm tomorrow

Venue Memorial Stadium

Last year Bristol 22 - 25 Saracens

Last five matches Bristol: LWWWL Sarries: LLLLL

Bristol have been quoted at 80-1 for the title despite the boast by their chairman Malcolm Pearce that they are a growing force in the game. They finished last season strongly while Saracens were haunted by relegation fears. Thomas Castaignède starts at full-back for Sarries after two injury-plagued years and although their new rugby director Wayne Shelford has promised an improvement, their run of defeats looks set to continue tomorrow.

Leeds v Leicester

Kick-off 2pm today

Venue Headingley

Last year Leeds 37 - 16 Leicester

Last five matches Leeds: LLLLL Leicester: WWLWL

The Tigers begin the defence of their title against a side that finished bottom of the Premiership last season. Leicester, though, will be without the injured Geordan Murphy, Leon Lloyd, Glenn Gelderbloom, Rod Kafer and Darren Garforth while Ollie Smith, Steve Booth, Ricky Nebbitt and Lewis Moody all face fitness tests. Leeds give debuts to five of their summer signings including the former Scotland outside-half Gordon Ross.

London Irish v Bath

Kick-off 3pm tomorrow

Venue Madejski Stadium

Last year London Irish 31 - 15 Bath

Last five matches Irish: DLLLL Bath: LWLLL

Irish were last season's surprise package even if they finished with a run of defeats. The South Africa wing Pieter Rossouw and the Ireland second row Bob Casey make their debuts while Bath, who are without six of their internationals, have five new faces including the former Wales hooker Jonathan Humphreys and the prop Alessio Galasso. Jack Rowell is back at Bath but the club is far from the force it was when he left eight years ago and another defeat beckons.