Aviva Premiership Preview - Round 21

It's the penultimate round of the Aviva Premiership season this weekend and if last week's rugby is anything to go by, a scorching Easter Weekend is set to experience some explosive action with games of high important at both ends of the table.

Last week's ties included arguably the best match of the season with Leicester and Gloucester contesting an exciting 41-41 draw. It was also a weekend that saw Newcastle climb back off the bottom of the table at the expensive of fellow strugglers Leeds. Saracens closed the gap at the top to two points with a comfortable win over Exeter, while London Irish kept their play-off bid alive with a precious victory away to Sale.

James Jones previews the weekend's matches and predicts their outcomes.

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Friday 22nd April 2011

Sale Sharks v Exeter Chiefs - 3pm

Sale's only aim left this season is to finish as high up in the table as possible. They're all but safe from the drop and cannot make a top-six finish, therefore catching Exeter who are one place above them in the standings and six points better off is the most they can possibly hope for as the season draws to a close. Sharks lost to Exeter at Sandy Park in round nine and won't want to end the season having not beaten the Premiership's new side in their debut season. With two wins in their last four matches in all competitions and two consecutive wins at Edgeley Park against Leeds and Gloucester, Sharks will be confident of a positive result in front of their home fans.

Exeter's first season in the Premiership has been successful in the respect that they'll definitely be playing in the top flight again next season. That will have been their goal heading in to their first Premiership season but, although safety is ensured, they'll still want to end the campaign as strongly as possible. Four wdefeats on the bounce and no away win since October doesn't make good reading heading into to this clash with Sale, but Chiefs have proven this season that you just can't write them off.

Prediction: Away Win

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Newcastle Falcons v Leicester Tigers - 6pm (Live on ESPN)

Newcastle have the opportunity to put some daylight between them and bottom placed Leeds at what is a crucial point in the season for them. A slip up could cost them relegation and they'll need to be focused for the visit of league leaders Leicester. Falcons have lost five consecutive matches in all competitions and could do without a game against such strong opposition given their precarious league position. Their home form hasn't helped their cause either, with just one win at Kingston Park since November.

Leicester have lost just once in the league since the beginning of March and are going strong at the top of the standings. Their away form has been excellent of late, too, with six successive wins on the road. Confidence is high throughout the Tigers camp and they'll be looking to keep that confidence at its peak for as long as possible to ensure a slip up doesn't cost them a third consecutive Premiership title. They have the chance to make it four wins in a row against Newcastle on Friday and they should fully expect a positive result heading in to the final round of the season.

Prediction: Away Win

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Saturday 23rd April 2011

London Irish v Northampton Saints - 3pm (Live on Sky Sports HD)

Irish will be eager to catch fourth placed Northampton and tip them to the last available play-off spot. Anything less than a positive result will all but end their chances of Premiership glory this season. Four points separate them from their visitors so a convincing win is very much needed at the Madejski Stadium on Saturday. Although they haven't beaten Northampton in their last four league meetings, London Irish have won their last three Premiership games and won six consecutive matches at the Madejski in all competitions.

Northampton can practically ensure their play-off place with a fifth straight Premiership win against London Irish, but will have to do so by ending the Exile's strong home form. A disappointing loss to Gloucester on Tuesday evening made sure there's still plenty of work to be done in these final two rounds, but they will be confident that they can finish the job and give themselves a crack at the Aviva Premiership trophy in May.

Prediction: Home Win

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London Wasps v Bath Rugby - 5.30pm (Live on Sky Sports HD)

Wasps have already beaten Bath twice this season and will be looking for a hat-trick of wins to keep their top-six bid open. Their 51-18 thrashing of Leeds last Sunday ended a three game losing streak, but they are without a win on their last two Twickenham visits. A convincing win could bring them level on points with sixth placed Bath and give them a hopeful chance of European competition next season.

Bath can strengthen their grip on sixth place with a win at the Home of Rugby and their win at home to Harlequins last Saturday will give them the boost finish the season on a high. They won the equivalent to this fixture at Twickenham last season and will be hoping to win on the road for the first time in three games.

Prediction: Home Win

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Sunday 24th April 2011

Saracens v Gloucester Rugby - 1.30pm (Live on Sky Sports HD)

Saracens are currently the form team in the Aviva Premiership with eight successive wins stretching back as far as their loss to Sale in January. One more win and it'll be a record run for Sarries in their Premiership history. They managed to close the gap at the top of the standings to just two points last week with a win against Exeter and could top the table by the end of the weekend if Leicester manage to slip up again.

Gloucester can be confident of a play-off place already but will want to try and catch second placed Saracens in order to secure a semi-final game at home. They've won eight of their previous nine meetings with Sarries - the only loss being a 19-16 loss at Vicarage Road in 2009 - and they've won five of their last eight trips to Watford.

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Leeds Carnegie v Harlequins - 3pm

Leeds' Premiership status is hanging by a thread and although a win against fellow strugglers Newcastle a few weeks ago lifted them off the bottom of the table for the first time this season, they now find themselves back in 22nd and are in need of a big Falcons slip up and a positive end to the season to ensure safety. Their last win against Quins came way back in April 2005 - a 21-10 at Headingley - and have lost their last five meetings since.

Quins' faint hopes of a play-off spot were ended last week after going down 19-15 to Bath, so a top-six finish is all they can hope for for the remainder of the season. Their crushing 53-15 win over Gloucester at the end of March was their last win in five Premiership matches but they will be confident that they can record a much needed win and all but condemn Leeds to Championship rugby next season.

Prediction: Away Win

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You can follow James on Twitter at @jj2388