The Kingsholm crowd roared their approval when it was announced that Leicester would be their opponents in next Sunday’s Guinness playoff semi-final. Revenge is in the air. In last year’s final, the Tigers mauled Gloucester on a day that went down in infamy at this proud club. It has been a long time coming, but the supporters think that next Sunday is destined to be that day of vengeance.

On the face of it, the team that has led the regular season for most of the past eight months deserve to be strong favourites. For much of the campaign, the dazzling firepower of players like Ryan Lamb and James Simpson-Daniel has sparked the headlines, but the heroic nature of their defence against a barrage of attacks in yesterday’s first half has shown them to be a team capable of defending their way to victory.

Gloucester had to defend their 8-6 lead for 42 minutes without Mike Tindall, their defensive linchpin. Simpson-Daniel, such a brilliant runner, has so often looked vulnerable defending the channel, but both he and Anthony Allen provided a magnificent bulwark. If men like Allen and Tindall recover in time, Gloucester have the arsenal to book a place at Twickenham.

Their opponents, Leicester, have endured a miserable time of late, with Richard Cockerill suggesting in the week that it would be better for Leicester not to reach the playoffs because the quality of opposition would outclass them. Quite what the Leicester board make of Cockerill’s comments is one thing; the spirit in which they will arrive in Gloucester is quite another.

The crowd may have roared their approval, but Dean Ryan may be less enthusiastic. The Tigers have already won here this season and, having pulled off a stunning late recovery against Harlequins, they may arrive in the West Country feeling they have little to lose after their recent traumas. If Martin Corry can stoke up the champions’ pack and Andy Goode kick Leicester into position, this could be much tighter than the gulf in points between these teams would suggest.

It may be that Gloucester’s win at Wasps and stubborn triumph over Bath will give them the self-belief that has been lacking in recent years and that confidence, coupled with the Kingsholm crowd, makes Gloucester likely repeat finalists.

Their nearest and deadliest rivals, Bath, will reflect upon the chasm that is represented by a mere three points. Had they snatched a win that they may feel their kaleidoscopic first-half attacking game merited, it would be a week to recover from this bruising encounter safe in the knowledge that Wasps would have to leave their nests to travel west. That in itself would be no easy feat, but defeat yesterday has made life infinitely more difficult for Steve Meehan’s fluid attacking force.

Whereas Gloucester have perhaps struck a huge psychological blow in the last fortnight, Bath suffered one yesterday. This season they have failed to win on the road against a side in the top half of the table, and Wasps will be the worst possible opponents for them. If anything, Gloucester’s win in High Wycombe makes Wasps even more dangerous, for they have an admirable capacity to learn quickly from lessons taught them in defeat, and the recent home loss will only fuel their obsessive determination to win trophies.

Had the match been in Bath, it would have been almost impossible to predict a winner, but the venue swings things towards Wasps, especially if Matt Stevens and Lee Mears fail to recover from injuries. With them, there is a dimension to their offloading game that no other team in England possesses. Without them – as Bath were for the last 25 minutes yesterday – they looked a far more orthodox offensive outfit.

Wasps are favourites to make Lawrence Dallaglio’s final match a Twickenham occasion, but the vicious efficiency of their defence is missing. If Bath win as much ball next weekend as they did in Gloucester, they will score a lot more than six points.

Bath have been brilliant at times of late, too brilliant to be discounted, but the immovable object that was Gloucester yesterday may well have sent them to their Premiership doom at Wasps. Two thrilling games are in prospect, with a Gloucester-Wasps final the likeliest outcome.

Playoff semifi nals LONDON WASPS V BATH, SUNDAY, 2PM Stuart Barnes’ analysis: An almost impossible game to call with Bath currently playing the better attacking rugby but Wasps have timed their run to perfection. Fraser Waters needs to organise the home defence against Bath’s rampant attack. Verdict: Wasps win

GLOUCESTER V LEICESTER, SUNDAY, 4PM Stuart Barnes’ analysis: The momentum gained in the past fortnight gives Gloucester the edge. The pile-driving play of Fijian fl anker Akapusi Qera marks him as Gloucester’s main man while Leicester will need Harry Ellis at his international best to spark the Tigers. Verdict: Gloucester win

WIN TICKETS TO THE FINAL The Sunday Times and Guinness are offering a fan and four friends the opportunity to win tickets with full hospitality to the Guinness Premiership final at Twickenham on Saturday, May 31. The winners will be treated to entertainment and club activities in Twickenham’s West Car Park before the match. For your chance to win, send your answer to the following question to sporttickets@sunday-times.co.uk with your name, address and daytime telephone number: Who won last year’s Guinness Premiership fi nal? Entrants must be aged 18 or over and the deadline is noon on Tuesday, May 13. You can also win the chance to play at Twickenham. The Guinness Club Together promotion is free to join for members of nonprofessional rugby clubs in England, Scotland and Wales. For more information log on to guinness-clubtogether.com