Irish should be able to edge early lead in wet coniditions

Championship playoff final first leg
Sky Sports 5, 7.45pm Wednesday

As if London Irish haven't done enough by coasting to the Championship title with just one defeat in 20, they still have to overcome second-placed Yorkshire Carnegie over two legs to earn their place back in the Premiership.

There was a 17-point gulf between these teams and the squads are worlds apart too as Irish boast more than 100 international caps in their pack alone, which includes double World Cup-winning Kiwi prop Ben Franks.

The club's record tryscorer Topsy Ojo - twice capped by England - returns on the wing at Headingley but while it looks plain sailing, things are rarely that straightforward.

Carnegie will be desperate to stay in the tie with a second leg at the Madejski Stadium to come, and they were edged out only 20-14 when the teams met in Leeds in March.

With rain forecast, this could be a tense encounter and Irish will be happy to take any kind of lead.

Recommendation
London Irish to win by one to 12 points
1pt 6-4 bet365