Leicester v Harlequins predictions & rugby union tips: Tigers should prove tough

Free rugby tips, best bets and analysis for Leicester v Harlequins in the Gallagher Premiership on Saturday.

Where to watch

BT Sport 2, 3.30pm Saturday

Best bet

Leicester +3
2pts Evs bet365

Match preview

Harlequins have a nine-point cushion with four rounds to go as they aim for a top-four finish, but they have been playing fast and loose as well as riding their luck and could come unstuck against a strong Leicester line-up.

Three big wins on the spin read well for Quins, but they've relied on a last-minute try to win the last two of those when they were down to 14 men, and that isn't a formula to rely on.

Fly-half Marcus Smith, who is playing out of his skin right now, bagged both of those and there's a lot to like about Quins going forwards.

But only Bath and Worcester have conceded more tries than them this season, and shipping six tries and 46 points at home last week is not a blueprint for a playoff challenge.

Leicester have won just one of their last five - against lowly Newcastle - but after a raft of ins and outs at Welford Road last year the Tigers have been mixing and matching their line-ups more than most.

But they are going strong in this fixture, with an all-international front row of Dan Cole, Tom Youngs and Ellis Genge, first-choice half-backs in Ben Youngs and George Ford, powerful ball-carrier Jasper Wiese at number eight, and flying Fijian Nemani Nadolo on the wing.

Quins can't afford to be complacent against an opposing line-up of that calibre and they could well be on the back foot against the physicality of this Leicester side.

The Londoners are narrow favourites and backing Leicester with a three-point start at home looks a sound approach.

Wasps came to close to beating Quins last week when their polished attack hit top gear with six tries, and they get a chance to cut loose again when they face Worcester in Saturday's other fixture.

The Warriors have conceded 34 tries in their last five games and the handicap has been set in the mid-teens.

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