Aviva Premiership: No cakewalk for Tigers

Toby Flood should be replaced in the Leicester line-up by George Ford

Northampton coach Jim Mallinder has controversially included Callum Clarke in his squad to face Leicester on Saturday. Geoffrey Riddle looks at what is certain to be a combustible clash and rounds up the best bets for this weekend's live Aviva Premiership matches.

Leicester v Northampton, Saturday, 2.15pm, ESPN

Leicester Tigers host Northampton at Welford Road on Saturday for what is sure to be a spicier clash than usual.
This derby is always a fierce encounter but this time Jim Mallinder has decided to include Callum Clarke in his visiting squad.
This is the same Callum Clarke that hyper-extended the arm of Rob Hawkins', the Leicester prop, and was subsequently suspended for 32 weeks.
The sell-out 24,000 spectators are sure to have a raucous time of it.
Since September 2011 the only team to have won at Welford Road is Harlequins and their all-out style is simply a better model than Northampton's, especially now that Chris Ashton is with Saracens.
Northampton have won only once at Welford Road since 2003, and there have been better Saints sides, and worse Leicester teams, to have clashed there before.
Leicester are not hit too hard by England call-ups, and although George Ford slots in at fly-half in place of Toby Flood, Ben Youngs and Anthony Allen remain behind to bolster the back line.
Leicester should win this, but they continue to leak turnover ball and they may not win it as impressively as the odds suggest.
Recommended investment: 1-5 pt staking plan
1pt Leicester to win by 1-12.5 points.

Harlequins v Gloucester, Saturday, 5.15pm, Sky Sports

Gloucester would have been super confident of beating Harlequins at Kingsholm, but Saturday's late match takes place at The Stoop instead.
Gloucester are unbeaten in the league since losing on the opening day of the season, and my tip to back them to beat Leicester on the handicap last week proved fruitful with a 27-21 success.
This is one of the highest scoring fixtures in the Premiership over the past few seasons, with the last six games between the two sides averaging a massive 57.16 points.
Freddie Burns and Nick Evans are first and third in the top points scorer table with 104 and 87 points respectively and should keep the scoreboard ticking over.
Looking at their kicking records, Burns has kicked 24 penalties to Evans 15, which only highlights Gloucester's propensity to go for goal more often. It is no surprise either to see that Harlequins and Gloucester have scored the most points in the league this season.
Don't be fooled by the statistic doing the rounds that Gloucester are undefeated away from Kingsholm this season as those three matches were against London Irish, London Welsh and Worcester, the bottom three teams save for Sale Sharks.
Harlequins should win this, but I would be amazed if this wasn't a high -scoring match once again. There were no prices at the time of writing but I'd be prepared to go high at anything up to 45 points.
Recommended investment: 1-5 pt staking plan
3pts overs in the total points market at anything up to 45.

Saracens v Wasps, Sunday, 2pm, ESPN

Wasps have won their last four matches, three of which have resulted in an added try bonus point and they will be confident of at least a losing bonus point at Vicarage Road on Sunday.
Wasps have been in fine fettle of late, but rely so heavily on their two in-form wings.
The lack of an England call-up to Christian Wade and Tom Varndell is almost criminal. The two lead the Premiership's try-scoring lists and have guided Wasps to relative safety in the table after last season's horrors.
Wasps have been dire away from home recently and have lost their last ten matches on the road. It's an astonishing statistic, and one that represents their worst run on the road in their history.
Sarries have lost just one game in all competitions this season - 14 -12 to Exeter at Sandy Park, and this looks a gimmie for them.