England prop Phil Vickery will take his Gloucester side to Premiership strugglers Bath on Saturday, declaring: "The title race is not over by any means."

The Premiership season reaches its halfway stage this weekend, with Leicester seemingly cruising towards their fourth successive championship crown.

Martin Johnson's Tigers are currently seven points clear of a chasing pack led by Gloucester, while more than half their remaining 12 Premiership fixtures take place at fortress Welford Road, a ground where they have not lost in the league since December 1997.

Either third-placed Sale or London Irish, in fourth, will drop points from their Heywood Road clash on Saturday, and Gloucester make a short journey down the M5, still seeking a first league success on Bath soil.

Even if the unthinkable happens, and Leicester start losing at home, then all five of Tigers' remaining away trips are against teams currently occupying sixth position or below.

It represents a gargantuan task for any potential title wannabe, but Gloucester skipper Vickery (pictured) is not giving up the ghost.

"We are not playing particularly well at the moment, but we're looking to keep improving and keep winning," he said.

"I don't think that the league title race is over by any means, yet games like Bath at the Recreation Ground are the type whereby we have got to stand up and be counted."

Gloucester's four league victories from 22 starts against Bath have all been at Kingsholm, although they did win away in the Tetley's Bitter Cup last season, sending their hosts packing 24-18.

Bath are 16 points and nine places below Gloucester, having suffered seven league reversals already, so the form guide points emphatically to an away win.

But England tighthead Vickery doesn't see it as such a clear-cut issue.

"Bath are a quality team when they get things together. They are always tough to beat at home, and while they might be out of form at the moment, it is still going to be a very difficult test for us," he added.

Bath skipper Dan Lyle is battling for full fitness after suffering a hamstring injury during the USA's defeat against South Africa in Houston last weekend, and could miss out.

Coach Jon Callard, who must feel increasing pressure with every league defeat, now has Australian World Cup winner Michael Foley working alongside him in a track-suited role, but results must start to improve - and quickly.

Martin Corry, sidelined through hamstring trouble since England's demoralising Six Nations Grand Slam defeat by Ireland seven weeks ago, has a 50-50 chance of featuring in the Leicester 22 against Welford Road visitors Bristol on Saturday.

But manager Dean Richards is likely to field the same starting line-up that saw off London Irish 30-15 last Sunday, meaning another probable fly-half outing for Austin Healey.

Bristol are without hooker Neil McCarthy, who serves a one-match ban after collecting three yellow cards, so Wales Under-21 international Saul Nelson deputises, while Argentine half-backs Agustin Pichot and Felipe Contepomi return from Test duties against New Zealand in Buenos Aires.

Sale's Scottish scrumhalf Bryan Redpath is poised to make his comeback following a hernia operation, but coach Jim Mallinder might delay Redpath's return until the Powergen Cup sixth round appointment with Harlequins on Saturday week, rather than risk him against Irish on Saturday.

"I am desperately keen to play, and feel good, but I understand Jim wanting to be absolutely sure," Redpath said.

The only change following a 23-16 victory over Quins last time out is likely to be at centre, where Dan Harris' shoulder injury should create an opportunity for Mel Deane.

"Both Irish and ourselves were written off before the season started, but this weekend is the league's halfway point, and we are both in the top four," said Deane.

Irish player/coach Brendan Venter wasn't downhearted by the Leicester defeat, which only materialised when Tigers scored two converted injury-time tries after Exiles flanker Kieron Dawson had been sin-binned.

"We would have learnt more from the Leicester game than in our previous two league matches against Saracens and Northampton put together," Venter claimed.

"My guys are really trying hard at the moment, and we won't get depressed by the Leicester result."

Northampton's new coach, former New Zealand All Blacks supremo Wayne Smith, saw the Saints take Newcastle's unbeaten home league record last Sunday, and he will target more of the same when 10th-placed Wasps visit Franklin's Gardens on Saturday.

Saints will move up to seventh if they collect a maximum five-point haul, yet Wasps will arrive on the back of victory over Bath, a result that lifted them off the Premiership basement.

Sunday's league action takes Harlequins to bottom club Leeds, who are reeling from conceding 169 points in their last three Premiership encounters, while Saracens entertain Newcastle at Vicarage Road.