Bath entertain Leeds on Saturday in a crunch Zurich Premiership relegation clash.

Phil Davies' side have confounded pre-season predictions of a miserable campaign by launching a valiant attempt to save their Premiership lives.

Indeed, if Bath had conceded just five more points in defeat to London Irish on Wednesday, the west country giants would have dropped below tomorrow's opponents in the table.

But Davies admits a year's defiant struggle will be worthless unless his team manage to avoid bottom spot.

"Being the best team to go down is a pretty worthless title," he said.

"We know that people out there are willing us to do well and we are really encouraged by that. But we also know that Bath and Harlequins are targeting games against us as ones they think they will win.

"They are aiming at us and think they will turn us over. We have to be ready for that and make it as difficult for them as they think it will be for us."

Leeds are locked on 26 points with Bath and Quins, one place above the London aristocrats on games won.

Saturday's trip, and the visit to the Stoop at the beginning of next month, will probably decide Leeds' fate, and Davies has not been helped by the loss of two key second-row men.

England international Tom Palmer is out for the season with a broken leg, while Chris Murphy serves the second of a three-week ban imposed by the Rugby Football Union disciplinary panel after the recent home defeat by London Irish.

Bath have problems of their own, although new coach Michael Foley was encouraged by his team's performance in defeat against the Exiles, particularly the efforts of Iain Balshaw in an unaccustomed fly-half role.

Balshaw will continue in that slot, and could be partnered by Gareth Cooper, who made his comeback from ankle ligament damage two weeks earlier than scheduled in taking the field as a replacement on Wednesday.

England lock Steve Borthwick is an almost certain starter as Bath attempt to put themselves clear of Quins, who should have Paul Burke and Ace Tiatia back for Sunday's trip to London Irish.

While the scrap at the bottom of the table intensifies, Leicester are expected to complete the stroll for their fourth successive title at Welford Road.

Victory over Newcastle would be enough to see Dean Richards' men home with three games to spare.

Former All Black back-row Josh Kronfeld misses out with a knee injury, while utility man Will Johnson has undergone a cartilage operation which rules him out for three weeks.

Ollie Smith is also a doubt with an ankle problem, but Irish international Geordan Murphy could earn a place on the bench.

Newcastle were the last English team to beat Leicester on their own patch, and Rob Andrew's previous claims that the Tigers 'cheat' their way to victory has hardly warmed the relationship between the two teams.

Andrew is expected to give Jonny Wilkinson another outing, even though the England stand-off is dangerously close to the maximum 32-game season agreed between the clubs and the RFU.

Dave Walder is the only Falcons absentee as his failure to regain fitness from a hamstring strain extends to 10 weeks.

Any slip up by Leicester will see their celebrations postponed for a week only if Gloucester can beat a resurgent Northampton at Franklin's Gardens.

Skipper Phil Vickery should be back for the Kingsholm men, who were hammered at Wasps in midweek, along with front-row partners Trevor Woodman and Olivier Azam.

Saints coach Wayne Smith has a worry over lock Johan Ackermann, whose shoulder injury will limit him to a place on the bench at best as Jon Phillips takes over.

Robbie Morris starts at prop in place of Scotland international Mattie Stewart who has spent the week training with the Army.

Defeat at Newcastle two weeks ago has left Sale's Heineken Cup hopes in the balance, and coach Jim Mallinder has strengthened his squad by capturing prop Barry Stewart until the end of the season.

The former Scotland international goes straight into the squad for the Heywood Road clash with Bristol, who have prop Darren Crompton available following the completion of a 42-day ban.

The remaining game sees Wasps make the short journey to Saracens bidding to add to their recent impressive run and unlikely push for a top-four berth.