Neil Back

Leeds v Sale

Leeds Carnegie have managed just the one victory so far this season, 23-9, in Bucharest in the European Challenge Cup two weeks ago. Leeds have not won in Aviva Premiership Rugby since their 12-10 victory against relegated Worcester on 25 April.

Sale Sharks have won their last two games in the European Challenge Cup against Spanish side El Salvador and Italian outfit Petrarca Padova, but in the Premiership the Sharks have won just once since the opening day: 21-17 at home to Harlequins in round three.

Sale have not won away from home in the Premiership since they last visited Headingley Carnegie on 22 November 2009, with a 24-17 scoreline. Leeds achieved a first ever victory over the Sharks in their most recent meeting at Edgeley Park in February.

Newcastle v Saracens

Newcastle Falcons only win in their last five encounters in all competitions was 22-16 at home to Bourgoin in the European Challenge Cup two weeks ago. The Falcons’ solo victory in Aviva Premiership Rugby since last April was 29-17 over London Wasps at Kingston Park on 10 September.

Saracens have won their last four games of Aviva Premiership Rugby, but have been defeated in their two most recent matches in the Heineken Cup, against Clermont Auvergne and Leinster. Saracens have won their last five Premiership away games played at their opponents regular home grounds.

Sarries have won four of their last five clashes with the Falcons in all competitions, and have won twice before at Kingston Park in the Premiership – in 2003 and 2009.

Leicester v Bath

Leicester Tigers are the only side in the Heineken Cup with maximum points after the first two rounds, however their five encounters in Aviva Premiership Rugby have all been won by the home side on the day. Tigers have lost just once at Welford Road since September 2008: to Saracens on 8 May.

Bath Rugby won 22-6 at Aironi last Saturday, but their only victory in their last three Premiership matches was 31-16 at home to Sale in round four. Bath have won two of their last five away games in the Premiership.

Tigers are unbeaten in their last seven clashes with Bath in all competitions, since Bath won 25-21 in the Premiership at The Rec in November 2008. Bath’s only previous victory at Welford Road in the Premiership was 13-12 on 29 November 2003.

Gloucester v Harlequins

Gloucester Rugby have suffered just one reversal in their last four matches in all competitions: 19-26 in Agen on 8 October. It is now almost exactly twelve months since Gloucester were last defeated at Kingsholm in the Premiership, Wasps being the victors, 35-6, on 24 October 2009.

Harlequins have also won three of their last four games in all competitions, and are going for a third successive Aviva Premiership Rugby victory for the first time since April 2009. Quins have not won away from home in the Premiership in 2010.

The last seven encounters between the two clubs in the Premiership have all been won by the home side on the day, whilst Harlequins have not won at Kingsholm since 13 February 1999.

Exeter v London Irish

Exeter Chiefs ended a three game losing run with their 34-19 victory in Bourgoin on Friday evening. The Chiefs have won both Aviva Premiership Rugby matches played at Sandy Park so far: 22-10 over Gloucester and 22-17 against Newcastle.

London Irish’s four game winning sequence in all competitions ended at the hands of Ospreys in Swansea on Friday. The Exiles’ only away win so far this season was 46-12 at Newcastle in the Premiership in round four.

The two teams have met just twice before in competitive rugby, with Irish winning on both occasions: 27-25 at The Avenue in the Cheltenham & Gloucester Cup in February 1998, and 57-12 at the County Ground in the Tetley’s Bitter Cup in November 2000.

Wasps v Northampton

London Wasps have won two of their five games so far in Aviva Premiership Rugby, at home to Leicester in round 3 and at Sale in round 5. Wasps have not lost at Adams Park in the Premiership since Newcastle were the visitors on 3 January.

Northampton Saints have suffered just one defeat in all competitions so far this season: 17-24 at Saracens in the Premiership on 26 September. The Saints have tallied at least one league point from their last 20 Premiership matches.

The last six encounters between the two clubs have all been won by the home side on the day, whilst the Saints have never won in nine previous visits to Adams Park.