Leicester's amazing unbeaten home run in the Zurich Premiership is under threat on Friday night.

The Heineken Cup champions are one month short of a five-year unbeaten Premiership run at Welford Road, but current front-runners and fellow Heineken Cup side Gloucester are aiming to end it.

Both sides go into the match without their England internationals, who take on Australia at Twickenham the following day.

Gloucester lead the Premiership on 35 points, with the Tigers third on 27. The teams are the in-form sides of the competition, both securing 22 out of a possible 30 points in their last six games. Leicester have won 15 of the 23 Premiership meetings between the two classy sides.

Elsewhere on Friday night, Heineken Cup side Sale Sharks host PARKER PEN CHALLENGE CUP team Saracens, and a home win could rocket the Sharks into the top three on the table.

On Sunday, the two bottom teams battle it out, with Bristol hosting London Irish. High-flying Leeds Tykes, second on the table, host the dangerous Northampton Saints, while Harlequins will be looking for points against fellow CHALLENGE CUP side London Wasps.

In the final match, Newcastle take on Bath, with both teams desperate to move out of the bottom four on the table. Newcastle have won only five of the 13 Premiership matches between the two teams, and go into the match without England match-winner Jonny Wilkinson.