Premiership rugby union predictions, betting tips and odds: Saints still up for the fight

Where to watch Saturday's Premiership matches

Northampton v Saracens
TNT Sports 1, 3.05pm Saturday

Bath v Leicester
TNT Sports 1, 5.30pm Saturday

Best bets 

Northampton to lead at half-time
2pts 6-5 BoyleSports

Leicester +8
2pts 10-11 Coral, Ladbrokes

Predictions

Northampton and Bath face juggling acts in the penultimate round of Premiership fixtures, with one eye on big European finals next weekend.

They have nothing to play for in the league as Bath are assured of a home playoff semi-final while Northampton are out of the running for the top four. Both rested their frontline players last week and now have to get themselves back up to peak performance in readiness for next week while avoiding injury.

To cloud the picture more they both host teams in pursuit of points for their own playoff prospects, and Saracens in particular, who started round 17 outside the top four, will be hoping to catch their opponents off guard.

Sarries have beaten playoff rivals Leicester and Gloucester since the resumption after the Six Nations, but slipped up at Sale and they name a strong team in the knowledge that they have a weekend off before a clash with runaway leaders Bath in round 18.

The London side are marginal favourites but that may be doing Northampton a disservice. Next week's huge Champions Cup final against Bordeaux will be at the front of their minds, but they won't want to ease up and have selected all four of their Lions tourists in the starting line-up.

The Saints are 13-10 for victory, but given that they are likely to empty their bench early to keep their frontline players fit, the 6-5 that the hosts are ahead at half-time looks a better bet.

Bath are odds-on to prevail at home to Leicester, who sit second and have a final-round match at home to bottom side Newcastle, so must be confident of staying in the top two and gaining a home semi-final.

Nonetheless, they name an unchanged side from the team that beat Sale at home last week and given that Bath are also likely to hold a little back, the Tigers could offer some value with an eight-point start.

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