So much at stake for Leicester Tigers in Northampton clash

It would be wise to stay well clear of Leicester Tigers head coach Richard Cockerill if Northampton Saints end his side's 14-month unbeaten home record today.

As he prepared his charges for the Guinness Premiership clash at Welford Road, Cockerill said: "I never want to lose at home and Northampton would be my least favourite side to lose to."

Derbies between these two sides are always tough to call, but maybe more so than ever today.

Tigers have home advantage at a ground that has been a fortress over the past year and, with a 24,000-sell out looking possible, that support could play a part in the outcome.

But Cockerill has been hampered by the usual lengthy injury list and the departure of eight players to the England set-up.

Richard Blaze and Ben Kay returned in midweek, but Leicester will be much shorter on first-choice firepower than Jim Mallinder's side.

The gaps in the Saints line-up are big ones though. Front-row issues with injuries and suspensions have been added to, with some crucial players being picked for Martin Johnson's national squad. Hooker and captain Dylan Hartley is gone, as is second-row Courtney Lawes and full-back Ben Foden.

Add their puppeteer, fly-half Shane Geraghty, to the mix, and Northampton will arrive with some big names missing.

Cockerill suggested that it would be a real test for the visitors to play without some key characters. Tigers, however, have been doing that all season.

"They have some guys missing, certainly in the front five, but nowhere near as many as we have missing," he said. "They will come here thinking they have an opportunity, but so has everybody else over the past couple months and we haven't lost for 17 or 18 games at Welford Road.

"You would like everyone fit but we can all make excuses about why we shouldn't win.

"I would like a few headaches from a selection point of view, but that's not the case so we get on with it.

"Despite our injuries and England call-ups, we will have a good side and we are confident that we can hold that record at home.

"It's a local derby, it's live on TV and, hopefully, will be sold out.

"It's going to be a big day for the club and we need to make sure we win because that will put us in the top four going into the Anglo-Welsh tournament.

"On paper, we will have a good side. We just need to play a bit better than we did last week.

"We must prepare well, get fit bodies out there and take it to Saints. Local rugby derbies are not quite as tribal as football ones, but it is still very important to the fans.

"They are a good side and are to be respected. Jim and Dorian West are doing a good job and they are fourth in the table because they have played well.

"They have a physical back line and a good back row. I am looking forward to it."