Harlequins can hurt Leicester title drive

Although Harlequins are closing in on the signature of Cardiff's Liam Botham, they have a more pressing matter on their minds this weekend - how to stop Leicester. If the Tigers win, and second-placed Bath lose against Saracens, then Leicester will be Premiership champions for a second successive season.

Should Bath, unbeaten in the league since Saracens toppled them in December, win then Leicester can still take the title by defeating Bristol next Sunday.

Harlequins, despite having conceded 127 points in their last two Premiership matches and preparing for an end-of-season player clear-out, make just two changes from the line-up walloped at Bath. Wing Jason Keyter replaces Daren O'Leary and flanker Steve White-Cooper comes in for Adam Leach.

Leicester show one change from the side that saw off Northampton 26-21 last week. The lock Ben Kay replaces Fritz van Heerden with injuries still keeping out Darren Garforth (knee), Dorian West (cheekbone) and Will Johnson (ankle).

The Bath prop Victor Ubogu will make a Recreation Ground farewell today before his scheduled retirement at the end of this season. Who replaces the England veteran next term is unclear, given that Cardiff have dug their heels in over Andrew Lewis and effectively aborted his £200,000-plus move to Bath.

Gloucester can effectively secure Heineken Cup qualification by beating bottom-placed Bedford at Kingsholm today. It would give them 37 points, with one match - at London Irish on 20 May - remaining.

"I want us to win by 30 points this weekend," said the Gloucester coach, Philippe Saint-André, still furious about last Sunday's defeat against Newcastle. "We must have respect for Bedford, but if we lose against them, then it will mean that we are just not good enough for the Heineken Cup."

In today's other Premiership encounter, Sale host Newcastle at Heywood Road.