Over the past month Bath and London Irish have duelled for top spot in the Guinness Premiership and it would be no surprise were Irish to regain the lead by tomorrow evening. Bath, who head the table, must win tomorrow at Leicester, where they have won only once in the Premiership (in 2003). Irish, in second, play against struggling Newcastle Falcons at home today.

These days, though, it is a top-four place that is cherished and seven clubs have realistic hopes of making the play-offs at this stage. There is a six-point gap between Saracens, in seventh, and eighth-placed Worcester Warriors, who give a debut to Hal Luscombe, the Wales centre, against Sale Sharks this afternoon. Luscombe joined from Harlequins last summer but has spent the intervening period recovering from a knee operation.

The new year message, therefore, is that no club can rest easy. Take Saracens, who travel today to Kingsholm, where Gloucester have not lost since Leicester defeated them in their season opener. “We may be mid-table but our points differential is equivalent to a top-four side, which is a positive indicator,” Eddie Jones, the Saracens director of rugby, said.

“If our season was a GCSE course, I would give us a C grade. We have never done well at Gloucester, it would be good to put that right.”

Jones, the former Australia head coach, made the point that pitches in England are generally smaller in width — 67 metres as opposed to 70 — than in the southern hemisphere. “Sides can effectively defend with one less player,” he said. “It has made the breakdown even more physical and confrontational and meant referees spend 80 per cent of their time refereeing the breakdown. Sides have taken advantage of this by stepping offside, which closes down attacking options.”

Steve Meehan, the Bath head coach, thinks that his players have come to terms with the technical changes he has introduced to tighten up a loose approach that caused their supporters to watch on nervously throughout December. “Over January, we will be playing better rugby as a result and Leicester away, then Wasps at home, will be big matches,” he said.

Meehan, like several other coaches, must rest some England players, Lee Mears and Matt Stevens in his case. Leicester give Toby Flood tomorrow off, while Saracens rest Steve Borthwick and London Wasps will be without Tim Payne against Harlequins tomorrow. But Gloucester will field Lesley Vainikolo after the wing’s appearance before Bath magistrates yesterday. He was charged with grievous bodily harm and a preliminary hearing will take place at Bristol Crown Court on January 13.

Guinness Premiership previews

Today

Gloucester v Saracens, 3pm

Gloucester change two of the XV who won away to Bristol last Saturday, with Dave Lewis starting at scrum half, and Saracens make six changes after ending London Irish's ten-match winning run a week ago. Saracens have won once in their past 19 visits to Kingsholm.

London Irish v Newcastle Falcons, 3pm

Sailosi Tagicakibau broke an arm against Saracens, so the exiles give Tom Homer his second start on the wing. Alex Corbisiero starts at loose-head and will face Carl Hayman, the former All Blacks prop, who is back after a knee injury.

Northampton v Bristol, 3pm

Bruce Reihana, the captain, has been replaced, not rested, according to Northampton, who bring in Ben Foden at full back as the only change to a side who had no bite away to Bath seven days ago. Bristol make two changes with Roy Winters in at lock after missing December with injury. Bristol have lost to Northampton three times this season, but earned their only league win of the campaign against them, in November.

Worcester Warriors v Sale Sharks, 3pm

The absence for the rest of the season of Sam Tuitupou, the former All Black, with ruptured knee ligaments, is a big loss for Worcester but Hal Luscombe, the former Wales centre who is fit after a knee injury, makes his debut. Jason White dislocated a finger in Sale's defeat of Wasps on Boxing Day and is replaced at flanker by Chris Jones.

Tomorrow

Leicester v Bath, 1.30pm

Bath, the leaders, rest Matt Stevens, the prop, and Lee Mears, the hooker, under the agreement governing the England elite player squad. Leicester rest Toby Flood, the fly half, for the same reason, but Derick Hougaard returns after injury in his place. Ben Kay and Geordan Murphy are also back for the home team.

London Wasps v Harlequins, 4pm

Wasps make ten changes to the side thrashed by Sale. Phil Vickery is one of several returning international players, but Josh Lewsey, Joe Worsley and Tom Palmer are injured. Harlequins make two changes to the team who drew with Leicester. Gonzalo Tiesi, a late withdrawal a week ago, is at centre.