Andy Goode ensures Worcester Warriors are well-armed for battle against Leicester Tigers
On paper, today's Aviva Premiership fixture between Leicester Tigers and Worcester barely warrants a visit to the bookies.
Tigers have won the last six meetings between the two sides, the Warriors are yet to win at Welford Road and are 9-1 outsiders in a two-horse race.
Add in the visitors' lamentable record on their travels, which has seen them win just once on an opposing ground in the Premiership since 2009, and it looks like a turkey shoot.
There are a couple of reasons to think otherwise, however.
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Former Tigers fly-half Andy Goode seems to have lost none of his accuracy or vigour for the game, and his boot could be the visitors' most dangerous weapon.
The 32-year-old will need to curb the enthusiasm that saw him sent-off for a wild tackle on Tom Croft in last season's corresponding fixture, but Goode is a consistently accurate goal-kicker who knows the Welford Road posts better than most.
He is also in some of the best shape of his life, and Leicester will need to keep their indiscretions down to a bear minimum if they want to keep Goode out of the game.
Dean Schofield's addition to a traditionally big and bruising pack could also cause Tigers some concern. The experienced lock is abrasive and knows all the tricks of the trade, having spent most of his career at Sale before a stint in the French Top 14 with Toulon.
As a result, Tigers director of rugby Richard Cockerill believes Worcester are "better than last year".
"They played very well against Bath last week and only lost late on," he said.
"They played most of the rugby and were unlucky not to get the win. They were physical and direct, and Andy Goode kicks the ball a long, long way and kicks most of his goals.
"They are a well-drilled side who have had few changes and they will be tough to break down. They are a better side than they were last year and we expect a tough and physical battle."
Leicester were very professional last Sunday as they emphatically dealt with Premiership new boys London Welsh.
A bonus-point victory marked a job well done, and another win today would send Cockerill's men into fixtures with Saracens and Harlequins in fine fettle.
Cockerill insists his side need to step up a gear again today.
"We have to be more accurate than last weekend," he said. "We have to catch the ball at kick-offs and you can't be giving the ball back to teams so that they can run back at you.
"At Welsh, every time we made a mistake they scored, and that cost us.
"We have to be spot-on for Worcester. There is a lot of quality in their side and they have a very big forward pack. If we don't get those things right, we will have a long afternoon."
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