As Premiership rugby returns after the Six Nations, BBC Sport analyses who is in contention for the title going into the end-of-season run-in.
There are only six rounds of matches left with nine out of 10 clubs still vying for a coveted top-four place, meaning there is no room for rustiness.
Harlequins were denied by Leicester from going top of the table in January and face a tricky trip to London rivals Saracens on Saturday - as the team with the highest points tally at home in the division faces the team with the best points tally on the road., director of rugby Mark McCall said the club "would love to give them all a good send-off" over the next 10 weeks.
They went into the international break on the back of two league defeats in January, but strong performances from the likes of Immanuel Feyi-Waboso, Ethan Roots and Ross Vintcent in the Six Nations will boost their confidence.Since winning the championship in 2022, Leicester have not had it easy. Four losses in their first five games this season dropped them off the pace, but they moved into the top six for the first time when they beat Harlequins in their last outing.
The Tigers are looking to bounce back from defeat by Gloucester in the Premiership Rugby Cup final last week when they face the Cherry and Whites at Welford Road on Friday.Sale, who have also struggled to repeat the performances that drove them to the final last season, return to the Premiership having lost their past three games and without a win in any competition in 2024.
Inconsistency has continued to plague Bristol this season, though a home victory against Northampton on Friday would continue to build on the eight-try win over rivals Bath at the end of January and propel them further into the top-four mix.While second-bottom Gloucester are not out of the running for the top four, their 22 points puts them 14 behind Saracens in fourth. It would require the Cherry and Whites to win all six of their remaining games and a major slip-up from a team above them.
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