Interestingly there are no Saturday games this weekend. The top of the table/Premiership decider? between Bath and Gloucester takes place on Friday night with all other games being played on Sunday afternoon. An away win for Gloucester, who have yet to win at the Rec, will see them open up a significant lead at the top. After this weekend the Premiership takes a two week break for the final two pool rounds of the Heineken Cup.

This week’s match will bring increased pressure for Leicester, they have not had the best for starts to their season compared to recent years, currently lying in fifth place they are nine points adrift of Gloucester, it will be interesting to see how they face this league match as it is followed by two very crucial Heineken Cup matches away to Edinburgh and at home to Leinster. Although second in their pool after four games they have lost twice and only have nine points. They have to win both matches and win well. They will not win their group and on current standings they are also unlikely to qualify for one of the two runner up positions as there are four or five clubs that are already better positioned. As we know, Quins now have only the Premiership to concentrate their efforts on, and it is likely that this wounded Tiger will fight to ensure that they are in a qualifying position for next years European competition.

There has been some concern aired by hooker George Chuter this week, as he appeared to criticise the new coach Loffreda, who made 13 changes for their last game against London Irish. Despite a home win for the Tigers, London Irish pushed them hard. He is expected to make wholesale changes again this week to face Quins, as Chuter told BBC Radio Leicester: "In our situation as it is with two must-win games in Europe, I don't think you can afford to be experimenting. It's not a time to be tinkering around with things any more. Quins are a good team, we're playing away from home and they're on the back of a morale-boosting win against Worcester last week” He added “A win there must have been great for them morale-wise and it gives them breathing space in the table, but this week's a big game for us, another must-win really, because of the situation in the league and then we have another two cup finals in the Europe Pool."

This too is a must win game for Quins if they are to maintain their top six position, Harlequins ended their eight game run without a win with their 10-7 victory at Worcester last Saturday and as I predicted Worcester would come away with a bonus point that would lift them off the bottom of the table. It is hoped that the confidence gained in a hard fought match in dreadful weather conditions will propel them to further glory this week. Harlequins have continued from where they left off last season and have continued to reap at least one league point form each of their last fifteen premiership home games. Despite some lackluster performances the points keep rolling in, and Quins have picked up more bonus points than anyone else in the Premiership so far this season, which includes the point gained against Saracens two weeks ago, their first Premiership defeat at The Stoop this season

Leicester who had a good start to their season, have only won one of their last six away matches in all competitions. That was against Leeds back in November, however Leicester have won on the last eight occasions that they have met Harlequins since a 23-26 reversal at the Stoop in the 1st leg of the Wildcard semi-final ( remember them) way back in May 2003. The two sides have met 18 previous times in the Premiership with Harlequins victorious just once, 17-9 at the Stoop on 19 April 2003. So it is about time we laid that statistic to rest! Last Season despite loosing both matches Harlequins did come away from both matches with a loosing bonus point.

Harlequins v Leicester games always have an edge, and especially more so now that Dean Richards is at the helm, and he will be desperate to get a victory over his old club, and his old partner in the pack Richard Cockerill.

Forwards coach Richard Cockerill says Leicester Tigers know exactly what to expect when they face Harlequins, he believes Richards' no-compromising style is reflected in the way Quins play.  He said earlier this week, “We obviously know Dean very well and he will have a squad which will be highly motivated and difficult to play against. We have to be very much out of that cast if we are to win. Quins had a good start to their season but have had a dip in form recently. It has been their first time back in the Heineken Cup for a while and they have found t hat hard, but in the league they have done very well and they got back on track last week when they went to Worcester and won. They are a team we respect greatly” he added "The rivalry between Dean and Leicester is there for obvious reasons," said Cockerill. "But I think getting the points will be even more important to him on Sunday - and us as well for that matter, as whoever wins this match will cement themselves in or around the top four and the losers will drop out.” With Quins next Premiership match away at Sale, which will also be live on Sky, the pressure is on the home side to come away with the four points.

Quins coach Andy Friend said the Leicester game was a huge fixture in the Club’s calendar. “when we sat down at the start of the year and set out our plans, one of them was to beat the top teams. We started well with Wasps and Leicester are now the next big challenge.” Let’s not forget we almost got the better of Gloucester too.

The team is expected to be announced as usual at lunchtime on Friday, and I full expect to see Will Skinner’s name on the team sheet. The concerns over Nick Easter’s knee injury have been allayed, but it is thought that the No.8 is not a certain starter this weekend against Leicester. It is possible that he’ll be rested this week and maybe over the next two weeks of Heineken action.

After nine matches the Premiership table looks like this.

A win for Quins will maintain their position in the top six position, just two points separate the clubs placed 3^rd, 4^th 5^th and 6^th. Sale and Saracens are also expected to consolidate their positions if they overcome London Irish and Bristol respectively, as both  of these clubs concentrate on gaining a Heineken quarter final berth. Lower down both Newcastle and Wasps can be expected to consolidate their attack on the top six with wins over the bottom two clubs.

Quins are scheduled to play the return match up at Welford Road of the last day of the season. It will be interesting to see where the two teams are then?  May be I m still full of New Year cheer, but I have a feeling about this match, and as a home fixture we certainly have a good chance of beating the Tigers  providing we play to our strengths and not keep kicking the ball away. It will be a close match with the loosing side coming away with a bonus point.

Come on You Quins! 

The other Premiership matches this weekend are;

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