Saturday's Premiership predictions and rugby union tips: Chiefs to edge to victory

Where to watch

Leicester v Northampton
BT Sport 2, 2pm Saturday

Exeter v Gloucester
BT Sport 2, 4.30pm Saturday

Best bets

Leicester -8 v Northampton
2pts 10-11 Coral, Ladbrokes

Exeter to beat Gloucester by one to 12 points
1pt 11-8 bet365

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Leicester v Northampton 

Both these sides have been struggling for consistency in the Premiership and seem to have got out of the winning habit, but the East Midlands derby atmosphere often brings out the fight in both.

And Leicester look primed to make the best of being back on home soil by seeing off a much-weakened Northampton team.

The Tigers have won just two of their last six Premiership matches but those victories came in their only two home outings. And while they were stunned at the death by the Ospreys in the Champions Cup last week, they have suffered just one defeat in their last 17 home Premiership games.

Northampton are forced into ten changes due to injuries and international call-ups, and while Leicester are also without key internationals they have the depth to be able to field Handre Pollard at fly-half, Freddie Burns at full-back and Anthony Watson on the wing, while the pack looks strong too.

Leicester won the reverse fixture at Franklin's Gardens in September 41-21, while the teams met three times last season including in the playoffs and the Tigers won all three by a double-figure margin.

Exeter v Gloucester

Just past the halfway point in the season this clash looks like a playoff shootout as fourth-placed Gloucester visit Exeter in fifth. One point separates the teams who have identical records of six wins and six defeats apiece.

Neither side has been too hard hit by international call-ups and this looks set to be a physical confrontation between two powerful packs, and there may be little in it.

Eight of Exeter's 12 games this season, and nine of Gloucester's, have been settled by a margin of no more than 12 points. The Chiefs have lost just once at Sandy Park this term - by two points to leaders Saracens - and home advantage could be the decisive factor in a tense battle.

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