This will be the fifth matchday to take place since the season resumed last month and there is still a lot to play for with the race to finish in the top four looking tighter than ever.
Chiefs to Maintain Winning Momentum
One side that are all but guaranteed a top-four finish are leaders Exeter Chiefs, who will be looking to extend their 14-point lead at the top of the standings when they visit Northampton Saints on Friday.
The Chiefs have won all four of their matches since the restart, including last Sunday’s 59-7 rout of Worcester Warriors, while they have struck nearly 100 points more than any other team in the division.
Northampton, by contrast, have seen their hopes of reaching the playoffs diminish since the restart as they have lost three of their four games, including both of their matches at Franklin’s Gardens against Wasps and Northampton.
The Saints could really do with a morale-boosting victory on Friday to kick-start their campaign, but the Chiefs are likely to prove too strong, particularly as they have won each of the last three meetings between the two sides.
Friday’s other match will see out-of-form Worcester welcome third-place Bristol Bears to Sixways Stadium.
Sarries Savouring Premiership Swansong
Saracens’ relegation from the Premiership may have been confirmed long ago due to breaches in salary cap regulations but they have managed to continue getting results, while they have also retained the majority of their players.
Indeed, if it wasn’t for their eye-watering 105-point deduction, Sarries would actually be second in the standings and they have won each of their last three games.
Mark McCall’s side will play host to Wasps on Saturday, with the visitors looking to tighten their own grip on a top-four place.
Wasps edged out Bath in a thrilling encounter at the Recreation Ground last time out and they have won three of their four games since the restart, but Sarries have triumphed in six of the last seven meetings between the two sides and could throw a spanner in the works once again this weekend.
Sharks Sailing Into Playoffs
Second-place Sale Sharks are also in action on Saturday when they travel to struggling Leicester Tigers and they will be looking to build on their recent back-to-back victories over playoff rivals Wasps and Bristol.
The Sharks should certainly have too much for fallen giants Leicester, who will be breathing a huge sigh of relief that Saracens have already been relegated.
No team can match Leicester’s record of 10 Premiership titles but the last of those came in 2013, with the current team having lost three of their four games post lockdown.
Saturday’s other Premiership fixtures will see Harlequins, who are almost entering last chance saloon territory in their pursuit of a top-four finish, entertain Bath, while Gloucester and London Irish will meet at Kingsholm Stadium.
