Here's the team news, form guide and historic info to put you in the picture nfor this weekend's Zurich Premiership ction.

(6) Northampton v (3) Leicester

New Zealand international Bruce Reihana is set to make his Northampton debut off the replacements' bench after joining from Waikato. Several players will be absent because of international commitments, so Saints have called up the likes of wing Oriol Ripol, scrum-half Johnny Howard, hooker Dan Richmond, prop Chris Budgen and back-row man Mark Soden.

Leicester have been ravaged by Test calls, ruling out Martin Johnson, Lewis Moody, Neil Back, Ben Kay, Austin Healey and Tim Stimpson, among others, but Tigers boss Dean Richards should still be able to field a strong side, given the presence of internationals such as Josh Kronfeld, Franck Tournaire, Dorian West
and Martin Corry.

Head-to-head: Northampton 5, Leicester 14, Drawn 1

Last season: Leicester 17 Northampton 6, Northampton 11 Leicester 21

This season:
Last six league matches: Northampton W W L W W L, Leicester L W L W W W

Top try scorers: Ben Cohen (Northampton) 5; Neil Back (Leicester) 3
Top point scorers: Paul Grayson (Northampton) 137; Tim Stimpson (Leicester)
119

(11) Bath v (4) Sale

Bath have switched former England full-back Matt Perry to outside centre. Bath are looking for their back to have more cutting edge so Perry is given an opportunity to show what he can do. Mike Catt, ruled out of England contention this week because of a hamstring problem, has been named as fly-half, but there is still a doubt about his fitness. Bath rest their French prop Alessio Galasso, while Danny Lyle moves into the second row and hooker Jonathan Humphreys takes over as captain from England's Danny Grewcock.

The experienced Jos Baxendell is set to fill the fly-half role for Sale after recovering from injury. With Charlie Hodgson injured and Bryan Redpath on Scotland duty, Nick Walshe is expected to switch from number 10 to scrum-half, partnering Baxendell. Like Redpath, full-back Jason Robinson is also unavailable.

Head-to-head: Bath 10, Sale 6, Drawn 1

Last season: Sale 20 Bath 14, Bath 20 Sale 17

This season: -
Last six league matches: Bath D L D L L L, Sale W D W W L W

Top try scorers: Mike Tindall (Bath) 2; Mark Cueto (Sale) 5
Top point scorers: Ollie Barkley (Bath) 106; Charlie Hodgson (Sale) 93

(12) Bristol v (8) Newcastle

Bristol captain Garath Archer will make his 100th appearance for the club when he leads the team out against former club Newcastle. Lee Best and Alex Brown are also looking to make their 50th league appearance on Sunday. Argentinian half-back pairing Agustin Pichot and Felipe Contepomi are available after international commitments and back row duo Ben Sturnham and Matt Salter return from injury.

Newcastle, eager to bounce back following a surprise home defeat by London Irish last weekend, are without fly-half and captain Jonny Wilkinson. Youngster Phil Godman is his probable replacement, although Falcons could turn to Samoa international Earl Va'a, recruited on a four-week contract as cover during the autumn Tests. Hooker Steve Brotherstone is a definite non-starter because of injury.

Head-to-head: Bristol 6, Newcastle 4, Drawn 0

Last season: Bristol 33 Newcastle 17, Newcastle 37 Bristol 20

This season: -
Last six league matches: Bristol L L L W L L, Newcastle L L W L W L

Top try scorers: Felipe Contepomi (Bristol) 3; Jamie Noon (Newcastle) 4
Top point scorers: Felipe Contepomi (Bristol) 135; Jonny Wilkinson (Newcastle)
139

(10) London Irish v (1) Gloucester

Irish make just one change as former South African international Pieter Rossouw has recovered from a hamstring injury to replace Paul Sackey on the right-wing, while Exiles player coach Brendan Venter will target another
impressive display from academy second-row prospect Nick Kennedy. Irish's current injury list includes centre Geoff Appleford, prop Rob Hardwick and back-row forward Declan Danaher.

Gloucester are likely to parade England squad members Andy Gomarsall, Marcel Garvey and James Forrester, who all were not required by Clive Woodward for Saturday's clash against New Zealand. Full-back Henry Paul, sidelined for Gloucester's victory over Northampton last weekend because of a neck muscle spasm, is set to return, with either Thinus Delport or Tom Beim replacing new England cap James Simpson-Daniel. Argentinian Rodrigo Roncero and long-serving
Andy Deacon are the probable replacements for England props Trevor Woodman and Phil Vickery.

Head-to-head: London 5, Gloucester 11, Drawn 0

Last season: Gloucester 29 London Irish 22, London Irish 19 Gloucester 15

This season:
Last six league matches: London Irish W L L L L W, Gloucester W W D W L W

Top try scorers: Declan Danaher, Paul Sackey (London) 2; Marcel Garvey
(Gloucester) 4
Top point scorers: Barry Everitt (London) 139; Ludovic Mercier (Gloucester)
137

(9) Saracens v (7) Harlequins

Saracens coach Wayne Shelford has been forced into making a handful of changes, with international calls sidelining Thomas Castaignede, Ben Johnston, Tom Shanklin and Richard Hill. Shelford gives opportunities to young full-back Adryan Winnan and wing Richard Haughton, with Kevin Sorrell returning in midfield alongside Tim Horan, and Tony Roques featuring in a rejigged back-row. Kyran Bracken, overlooked for England's appointment with New Zealand, captains the side.

Harlequins welcome back Ireland and Lions hooker Keith Wood for his first Premiership start since September 14. Wood, given the all-clear following a neck problem, resumes in the front-row alongside Bruce Starr, who replaces Jason Leonard, and Laurent Gomez. Tony Diprose will skipper Quins against his former club - South African recruit Andre Vos takes over the captaincy role permanently next week - while David Slemen starts at fly-half instead of England man Will Greenwood.

Head-to-head: Saracens 9, Harlequins 9, Drawn 0

Last season: Saracens 39 Harlequins 25, Harlequins 43 Saracens 6

This season: -
Last six league matches: Saracens L L W L L L, Harlequins L L W L W W

Top try scorers: Thomas Castaignede (Saracens) 3; Matt Moore (Harlequins) 3
Top point scorers: Andy Goode (Saracens) 94; Nathan Williams (Harlequins) 45

(5) Wasps v (2) Leeds

Former Wales skipper Rob Howley will lead Wasps for the first time in Premiership combat, taking over from England's Lawrence Dallaglio, and his regular half-back partner Alex King returns to action after missing the defeat at Leicester. England squad man Simon Shaw also starts, while in the absence of Dallaglio and an injured Joe Worsley, Wasps field a back-row of Mark Lock, Paul Volley and Peter Scrivener. Behind the scrum, Scotland international wing Kenny Logan reclaims a starting place.

Leeds' Gordon Ross is on international duty so Braam van Straaten reverts to fly-half and George Harder moves to centre. Diego Albanese returns for Harder on the wing. Mark Regan is away with England so Rob Rawlinson gets his first league start of the season. Chris Murphy returns after three weeks out with an ankle injury to replace Stewart Campbell in the second row.

Head-to-head: Wasps 2, Leeds 0, Drawn 0

Last season: Leeds 18 Wasps 28, Wasps 64 Leeds 14

This season: -
Last six league matches: Wasps D W W L W L, Leeds W D L W W W

Top try scorers: Josh Lewsey (Wasps) 6; Danny Scarborough (Leeds) 6
Top point scorers: Alex King (Wasps) 85; Braam van Straaten (Leeds) 123

(6) Northampton v (3) Leicester

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