The two remaining unbeaten records in the Guinness Premiership, those of Leicester and Sale Sharks, come under siege this evening, even if the table suggests that Leicester, at the head, should have few problems winning at home to London Wasps, who are second from bottom. Yet such has been the ferocious nature of games between these two since the millennium that few at Welford Road will take anything for granted, particularly with teams trying to manage three games within the next eight days.

Whether defeat by Wasps in the Premiership final in May still rankles with Leicester, only they can say, so many have been the changes since, not least with Heyneke Meyer replacing Marcelo Loffreda as head coach. But Wasps nurse their own grievances: three defeats on the trot this season, the loss through suspension of James Haskell, who is involved in another disciplinary hearing on Tuesday.

This time, though, Wasps are the defendants and Haskell the victim. Neil Best, the Northampton flanker, has been charged with gouging during last weekend’s encounter — Wasps have concerns about a scratched cornea in Haskell’s right eye — and must appear before the same RFU disciplinary panel, chaired by Judge Jeff Blackett, that was so condemnatory this week of the judicial process leading to Haskell’s one-week suspension for dangerous play.

Were he to be found guilty, Best could be suspended for a lengthy period; Dylan Hartley, the Northampton hooker, was banned for six months last year for a similar offence (against Wasps) and missed selection for England’s World Cup squad.

But the greater concern for Wasps is to find some smidgin of form that will help them to break this season’s duck. Josh Lewsey, who has dropped — not a word used loosely — a succession of unfortunate clangers, moves from full back to wing and Phil Vickery takes over the captaincy from Raphaël Ibañez, who is unavailable.

“I hope we haven’t come to the end of a natural cycle, I don’t believe that,” Vickery said. “The most important thing for me is that the only fingers being pointed are by individuals at themselves. That’s what I’m doing, looking at how to improve my game, at the small details. If we all improve by 1 or 2 per cent, the improvement in the team will be massive. Rugby isn’t a difficult game, it’s all about communication and execution.”

Leicester are expected to confirm the signing of Scott Hamilton, the Canterbury wing capped twice by New Zealand in 2006, on a two-year contract and Rob Hoadley, the Wasps centre, is to assist Phil Davies, the former Llanelli Scarlets director of rugby, in the coaching of the Wales Under-20 squad, while continuing his playing career.

Ryan Lamb goes into this evening’s match against Sale knowing that another poor performance could lead to him playing a peripheral role for Gloucester in the coming months. The 22-year-old fly half was dropped by Dean Ryan, the head coach, after the opening-day defeat at home to Leicester for failing to carry out team instructions. Ryan said that he had lost patience with the talented but mercurial England Saxons player.

Lamb missed the win away to Bath and played 20 minutes as a replacement last weekend in the defeat of Harlequins. He has been recalled for the trip to Edgeley Road as Ryan marshals his resources.

“Ryan knows he has to change his game and be more structured,” the head coach said. “We have been working on that for a long time but it became apparent we had lost patience. If he comes back in and has shown he can change, then it is something we can work on. If he doesn’t, we will be supporting the other 10s at the club.”

However, Ryan denied that Lamb would be allowed to leave if things did not go well. “He has a role to play,” Ryan said. After a mixed start to the season, Ryan was happy to see off Harlequins but unhappy that some of his team’s old habits had started to creep back in. “We showed a poor understanding of what we wanted from our kicking game and kicked far too short,” he said.

Bristol, who are bottom of the table, attempt to kick-start their season away to Newcastle Falcons. The visiting team have amassed only one point this season but take on a Falcons side two places above them and straining to recover from a 30-point beating by Saracens on Sunday.

Guide to this evening's Guinness Premiership matches

Leicester v London Wasps (8.05pm, Sky Sports 2)

Should Wasps prevail, it will be the first time in 24 years that they have had three straight wins over Leicester. They were the last to win at Welford Road in the league (in March) but change both half backs, opting for Mark Robinson and Jeremy Staunton. Tom Rees is back at flanker. Leicester bring in Dan Cole (prop), Marco Wentzel (lock) and Ben Woods (flanker).

Newcastle Falcons v Bristol (8pm)

Bristol have lost nine successive Premiership games but Newcastle have beaten them only once in nine matches since 2001. With Alex Tait (ankle) out, Steve Jones is at full back for Newcastle, Tim Visser comes in at wing and Joe McDonnell is fit again at prop. Bristol call up Matt Salter and Roy Winters, the experienced forwards, and Ed Barnes plays fly half for the injured Adrian Jarvis.

Sale Sharks v Gloucester (7.45pm)

Gloucester, yet to win in five visits to Edgeley Park, make nine changes. Rory Lawson and Ryan Lamb return at half back and Iain Balshaw plays his first match of the season at full back after recovering from a groin injury. Sale, without Andrew Sheridan (arm), bring in Lionel Faure at prop. Mathew Tait will play on the wing.