Bath v Gloucester

Kick-off 2.15pm today

Venue Recreation Ground

Last season Bath 41 Gloucester 7

Last five league matches Bath: WLLWW Glos: LWWWW

Gloucester will never have a better chance to reverse a winless league run here that stretches to 14 games. Their new jumbo-sized South African prop Christo Bezuidenhout will expect to be brought off the bench to give Bath's front row, desperately missing the injured Dave Flatman, a stern test. Bath have been boosted by the return of their lock Steve Borthwick after suspension and of Mike Tindall after injury.

Newcastle v Leicester

Kick-off 2.45pm today

Venue Kingston Park TV Sky Sports 2

Last season Newcastle 25 Leicester 25

Last five New: WWWWL Leic: WLWWW

Leicester have found ominously good form of late and it is a measure of their forward strength that they leave out one England lock - Ben Kay - and bring in another World Cup player - Martin Corry. The contrast between their 19-year-old fly-half Ross Broadfoot, who made a Rooneyesque debut last week, and Jonny Wilkinson should be revealing. The Falcons move Matt Burke from full-back to inside centre and Dave Walder is at No15.

Northampton v Wasps

Kick-off 3pm today

Venue Franklin's Gardens

Last season Northampton 27 Wasps 17

Last five North: WWWLL Wasps: LLLWW

Matt Dawson's return to Franklin's Gardens will give an edge to a game between two sides who had expected to challenge for the title but have made stuttering starts. Ben Cohen, whose form has completely deserted him, is dropped to make way on the wing for Wylie Human and Mark Robinson will be Dawson's opposing scrum-half. Lawrence Dallaglio has recovered from his rib injury and Rob Hoadley is at centre for injury-jinxed Wasps.

Worcester v Harlequins

Kick-off 2pm today

Venue Sixways

Last season No fixture

Last five Worc: WLLLL Quins: LLLLL

Harlequins pair Dafydd James with Will Greenwood, who has recovered from a head injury, as the visitors search for a winning alchemy in this bottom-of-the-table dogfight by the M5. But Quins have resisted playing their scrum-half Matt Henjak, who arrived from Australia only on Tuesday. Worcester try pairing Matt Powell with James Brown at half-back and leave a former Quin Daren O'Leary out to give Dale Rasmussen a chance on the wing.

Leeds v Sale

Kick-off 2.30pm tomorrow

Venue Headingley

Last season Leeds 20 Sale 31

Last five Leeds: LLLLW Sale: WWWWW

Sale have been the revelation of the Premiership thus far and will look to retain their lead tomorrow. Mark Cueto, an outside bet for an England place this autumn, and his fellow wing Steve Hanley have both recovered from injuries. Sale pick scrum-half Sililo Martens ahead of Bryan Redpath. Leeds put their bad start behind them with a merited win at Saracens but the loss of their injured lock and captain Tom Palmer is a crucial setback.

London Irish v Saracens

Kick-off 3pm tomorrow

Venue Madejski Stadium

Last season London Irish 14 Saracens 20

Last five Irish: LWLLL Sara: WWWLL

London Irish have reacted to last Sunday's defeat at Wasps by dropping their captain Ryan Strudwick to the bench and replacing him in the second row with Declan Danaher. Saracens coach Rod Kafer has resisted major changes despite a home defeat by Leeds that suggests the side will continue to struggle. Matt Cairns returns at hooker to replace Raphael Ibánez but injuries are undermining Kafer's progress.