Bath v Harlequins
Saturday, Recreation Ground, 2.15pm
Harlequins, the runaway leaders of the Premiership, are challenging the old order in English rugby but this will be a big test. Bath are a tough nut to crack nowadays and have the South African flanker Francois Louw and the centre Dan Hipkiss back. Danny Care is back on the bench for Quins following the toe injury that kept him out of the World Cup. Maurie Fa'asavalu starts.
Match Pointers Harlequins have won all nine games this season ... Bath are unbeaten in their last three matches against the London side.
Exeter v Gloucester
Saturday, 3pm, Sandy Park
The Chiefs will be buoyed by memories of that unforgettable first Premiership game against Gloucester last season when they defied all predictions that they would be makeweights at this level. Gonzalo Camacho makes his first Premiership start for Exeter and the Wales prop Craig Mitchell is on the bench. Mike Tindall makes his first start for Gloucester since the World Cup.
Match Pointers Gloucester are without a win in their last nine away games … Exeter have slipped to three successive defeats in the Premiership.
Leicester v London Irish
Saturday, 3.05pm, Welford Road, Sky Sports 2
Leicester are in an unfamiliar 10th place but their convincing win at Sale last Friday showed what a difference the return of their internationals makes. A couple more, Martin Castrogiovanni and Louis Deacon, are back with Dan Cole dropping to the bench. Irish introduce the Canadian back-rower Jebb Sinclair, Ross Samson is at scrum-half and Tom Homer is at full-back.
Match Pointers Leicester have won just one point from their three home games ... Irish's only win here in 25 visits since 1923 was in May 2003.
London Wasps v Northampton
Sunday, 2.15pm, Adams Park, ESPN
Chris Ashton will make his 100th appearance for the Saints against a side reeling from the news that coach Shaun Edwards and Simon Shaw, huge figures in their European glory years, are leaving the club. Wasps are without their injured England hooker Steve Thompson, with Rob Webber taking his place, while Phil Dowson moves to openside flanker for Northampton.
Match Pointers Saints have won their last three against Wasps, including a first win here last October … Northampton have won their last four matches.
Saracens v Sale
Sunday, 3pm, Vicarage Road
Saracens are tucked in behind leaders Harlequins and this should be a routine victory against a Sharks side in transition. Sale give the Wales back-row Andy Powell his first start with James Gaskell moving into the second row and Will Cliff takes over at scrum-half from the injured Dwayne Peel. Chris Wyles makes his first appearance for Saracens since the World Cup.
Match Pointers Saracens have won their last nine home games in the Premiership … Sale have won only once in Watford, in September 2005.
