Leicester look to salvage season

Last Modified: 09 May 2008
Source: ITN

Leicester need victory against Harlequins to be assured of top-flight European rugby next season.

The Tigers bid for a successful Premiership title defence could to reach its unsuccessful conclusion on Saturday.

They could even miss out on Heineken Cup qualification next season if their former boss Dean Richards masterminds a Welford Road victory for his current club.

To have any chance of reaching the title play-offs, Leicester need a bonus point win against Quins and hope third-placed Sale finish pointless at home to Irish.

And speculation continues to rage about head coach Marcelo Loffreda's future, with South African Dick Muir linked to a possible post earlier this week.

Loffreda said: "It has been a transition year and a long season. We have had lots of injuries and there has also been a World Cup. It wasn't a great season for the club the last time there was a World Cup either."

He added: "That sort of pressure was one of the things that I expected when I came here. I will tackle it with a lot of hard work, commitment and mental toughness."

Gloucester and Bath, whose play-off spots are already secure, clash at a sold-out Kingsholm with first place and a guaranteed home semi-final on offer.

Wasps could edge into second place and split the west country domination by beating already-relegated Leeds Carnegie, with Sale likely to complete the play-off picture.

The other Premiership game sees Worcester hosting Newcastle knowing that victory could take them above the Falcons into 10th place.

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