The two sides have endured contrasting starts to their respective Heineken Champions Cup campaigns, with Wasps slipping to a defeat to Munster Rugby and Leicester recording back-to-back wins, over Union Bordeaux-Bègles and Connacht Rugby.

But Wasps defied the odds as they took the lead five minutes into the domestic clash through a penalty try, only for Tigers to move within a point thanks to two George Ford penalties.

The league leaders then hit the front on 34 minutes as Julian Montoya went over, with Ford’s conversion extending their lead to six points.

Jimmy Gopperth would however kick three second-half penalties to snatch victory for Wasps and hand them a huge boost ahead of their Heineken Champions Cup home clash with last season’s winners Stade Toulousain on Saturday.

Elsewhere in the Premiership on Sunday, Bath Rugby notched their first win of the season as they beat EPCR Challenge Cup outfit Worcester Warriors 22-19.

After suffering 11 straight defeats in the Premiership as well as a loss to Leinster Rugby in the Heineken Champions Cup, Bath grinded out a victory at The Recreation Ground courtesy of tries from Semesa Rokoduguni, Max Ojomoh and Tom de Glanville.

Stuart Hooper’s side will hope to carry the momentum from that win into their Heineken Champions Cup encounter with last season’s finalists Stade Rochelais at Stade Marcel Deflandre on Saturday.

Wasps ended Leicester Tigers’ 11-game winning streak at the start of the Gallagher Premiership season as they triumphed 16-13 at Coventry Building Society Arena on Sunday.