Preview: Premiership semifinals
Saracens have won their last eight matches in all competitions and this will be their eighth appearance in the semifinals and their seventh in succession, reaching the final on four previous occasions.
Leicester Tigers' defeat at Bath in Round 22 ended a three-game winning run. The Tigers' only away victory in the tournament since the end of January came on a trip to Northampton on April 16. This is Leicester's 11th successive semi-final (they progressed directly to the final in 2005 after topping the table), where their only two defeats at this stage have come in the last two seasons, at Northampton and at Bath.
The last three fixtures between the two clubs have all been won by the home side on the day. The Tigers have lost on all three previous visits to Allianz Park, with their only try at the venue being scored by Graham Kitchener in 2013. The two clubs have met in one previous semifinal, with Leicester victorious 24-15 at Welford Road in 2012.
Exeter Chiefs become the eleventh different side to participate in a semi-final and Sandy Park becomes the eleventh different venue to such a fixture. The Chiefs have won their last two matches, at home to Wasps in Round 21 and inflicting a record home defeat on Harlequins a week later.
Exeter's only home loss in any competition since January 2015 came when Saracens were the visitors in February 2016.
Wasps have made it to the last four or the first time since they were champions in 2008. Wasps only defeat in the last seven rounds came when they visited Exeter on May 1. Wasps have participated in five previous semi-finals with their only defeat at this stage being at Sale in 2006.
The two sides have met three times this season, with Exeter taking both encounters in the Premiership but Wasps knocking the Chiefs out of the Champions Cup at the quarterfinal stage in Coventry on April 9. Wasps have visited Sandy Park on seven previous occasions in all competitions, with the Chiefs victorious every time.
We look at the Premiership semifinals!
Saracens v Leicester Tigers
(Allianz Park; Kick-off: 12.30, 11.30 GMT)
The European Champions may lie in wait for them away from home this weekend, but Leicester's Peter Betham insists they will not be afraid of Saracens in the semifinals. Neither side will be intimidated by the occasion, with Sarries in their seventh semifinal in succession and the Tigers in their 12th.
The astonishing figures do not end there, as you have to go all the way back to the 2003-04 season to find a final that did not involve either of the two teams. This season will be no different with Leicester locking horns with the north Londoners at Allianz Park for a spot at the Twickenham showcase.
And despite Saracens' astonishing European success last weekend and a week that has been filled with awards and acclaim off the field, Betham is confident his side can brush aside the hype.
"The boys have really been put through their paces this week and we've gone through a lot of game plans so everyone is coming along well. We expect a really hard game once again from Saracens. They are such an experienced side that are packed with internationals, so they'll be disciplined and physical as always.
"We'll have our work cut out for us. We're very lucky to have a second chance at being in a semifinal this season, so we have to make sure we take this chance. This time it's very much do or die so having the right attitude and mindset is going to be key for us.
"There's a lot more build-up to these big matches in England compared to Down Under, both European and Premiership games. There's a huge amount of interest in the games but you need to brush aside the mental hurdles and put everything into putting in the right performance on the day," he said.
The Tigers will take some confidence from their 21-13 win over Saracens the last time the sides met back in March, although since that game the north Londoners have won every match they have played in all competitions.
And while Leicester have lost on their last three visits to Allianz Park, newly crowned Premiership player of the season Alex Goode is adamant they will not be taken lightly.
"We're in fantastic spirits of course after last weekend but we are also well aware of how good a team they are. They've not been in the top four for so many years for no reason, and we'll have to make sure we turn up and put in a good performance.
"Everyone in this squad is incredible. The pack were brilliant last weekend, and going into this week again we've got to make sure we front up," Goode said.
Recent results:
2016: Leicester won 21-13, Welford Road
2016: Saracens won 26-6, Allianz Park
2015: Saracens won 22-6, Allianz Park
2014: Draw 21-21, Welford Road
2014: Leicester won 31-27, Welford Road
2013: Saracens won 49-10, Allianz Park
Prediction: Leicester Tigers will be hoping that Saracens experiencing a European hangover and could be vulnerable. However, Saracens are a champion team and they will prove that once again by claiming a 10 point victory.
Teams:
Saracens: 15 Alex Goode, 14 Chris Ashton, 13 Duncan Taylor, 12 Brad Barritt (captain), 11 Chris Wyles, 10 Owen Farrell, 9 Richard Wigglesworth, 8 Billy Vunipola, 7 Will Fraser, 6 Michael Rhodes, 5 George Kruis, 4 Maro Itoje, 3 Petrus Du Plessis, 2 Schalk Brits, 1 Mako Vunipola.
Replacements: 16 Jamie George, 17 Richard Barrington, 18 Juan Figallo, 19 Jim Hamilton, 20 Jackson Wray, 21 Neil De Kock, 22 Charlie Hodgson, 23 Marcelo Bosch.
Leicester Tigers: 15 Mathew Tait (captain), 14 Telusa Veainu, 13 Peter Betham, 12 Manu Tuilagi, 11 Vereniki Goneva, 10 Owen Williams, 9 Ben Youngs, 8 Lachlan McCaffrey, 7 Brendon O'Connor, 6 Mike Fitzgerald, 5 Graham Kitchener, 4 Dom Barrow, 3 Dan Cole, 2 Harry Thacker, 1 Marcos Ayerza.
Replacements: 16 Leonardo Ghiraldini, 17 Ellis Genge, 18 Logovi'i Mulipola, 19 Ed Slater, 20 Will Evans, 21 Jono Kitto, 22 Tommy Bell, 23 Adam Thompstone.
Referee: JP Doyle
Assistant referees: Craig Maxwell-Keys, Paul Dix
TMO: Graham Hughes
Exeter Chiefs v Wasps
(Sandy Park; Kick-off: 15.15, 14.15 GMT)
Jack Nowell says it's imperative he and his Exeter Chiefs team mates put on a performance as they look to book themselves a place in this season's final. The Devon club are just a game away from booking their place in English rugby's showpiece event for the first time and Cornishman Nowell is determined to turn dreams into reality.
Standing in the way of the Chiefs are rivals Wasps, a side they've already faced three times this season, winning two of the encounters, including the most recent at Sandy Park during the scheduled season when they triumphed 24-3.
On Saturday, though, there will be no league points on offer, just the prize of booking a spot at Twickenham in a week's time against either Leicester Tigers or defending champions Saracens. It's new territory for everyone at the Chiefs, but the England international is determined to play his part and drive Rob Baxter's side forward.
"It's got a good ring to it. However, it is going to be a big game for us and not just for us [players] but for Exeter.
"We have worked extremely hard to be in this position, not just the boys that have been out there every week, but the boys behind the scenes as well. It has been a whole squad buy in and to be able to have that chance, especially at home in front of our own crowd, it is going to be a special one," Nowell said.
A sell-out crowd of just under 13,000 is set to pack into the Exeter venue for Saturday's showdown and Nowell is hoping the home faithful will be rewarded with another polished performance from the Chiefs.
With the game selling out in a matter of days, the Exeter players helped to lift spirits in the damp conditions for supporters, some of whom queued for more than three hours in the rain to get their tickets, by delivering refreshments to those in attendance.
Nowell admitted the squad had been taken aback by the interest shown during that time.
"Most of the fans were actually out here before we started training, so to see that and know how much it means to people watching is obviously a big thing for us.
"We said when we last played Wasps here that it might be our last home game of the season. You want to make the most of it, but luckily for us now, we have a semifinal in front of our own crowd, which is going to be another exciting game, so it is important for us to put on a performance out there," he added.
And the Chiefs will come into the game on the back of successive victories over Wasps and Harlequins, the latter of which saw Nowell help himself to three tries in a 10-try romp at The Stoop. Wasps this weekend, however, will be a much tougher proposition and Nowell knows the Chiefs can ill afford to let their standards drop in any shape or form.
"They came down here knowing they had another game to play, but it is knock-out rugby now and this is the most important one. It is a semifinal and it doesn't matter if you are at home or away, it is a game you want to win to get to that final.
"But Wasps are a dangerous team and the occasion can change. We don't know what the weather is going to be like, or anything like that, but all we can do is focus on ourselves, like we did a few weeks ago and worry about what we do as a team," he stated.
Nowell knows the position the Chiefs find themselves is down to the hard work put in and he doesn't want this golden opportunity to go begging.
"It is down to how hard we have worked all season. To be here in this situation getting ready to play a semifinal for a place in the final, it would be an awful shame to let that slip. We are so close now and like Rob [Baxter], Geoff [Parling] and all the senior players are saying, at the end of the day, we are two games away form being the champions of England.
"When you look at it like that, it would be a shame to be so close and let it slip, but the important thing for us is not to let the occasion get ahead of us. At the end of the day, it is another game of rugby, there is a lot riding on it, but a game of rugby is a game of rugby and once we focus on ourselves and play the way we want it, that's the most important thing," he said.
Recent results:
2016: Exeter won 24-3, Sandy Park
2015: Exeter won 41-27, Ricoh Arena
2015: Wasps won 36-29, Ricoh Arena
2014: Exeter won 31-15, Sandy Park
2014: Exeter won 19-16, Adams Park
2013: Exeter won 30-26, Sandy Park
Prediction: With Wasps' last victory at Sandy Park being in 2015, it is hard to see them taking this one. However, they finished the round robin phase just two points behind their hosts and this game could prove to be just as tight. The home side will have the upperhand though and should claim a victory by about five points.
Teams:
Exeter Chiefs: 15 Phil Dollman, 14 Jack Nowell, 13 Henry Slade, 12 Ian Whitten, 11 Olly Woodburn, 10 Gareth Steenson (captain), 9 Will Chudley, 8 Don Armand, 7 Julian Salvi, 6 Dave Ewers, 5 Geoff Parling, 4 Mitch Lees, 3 Harry Williams, 2 Luke Cowan-Dickie, 1 Ben Moon.
Replacements: 16 Jack Yeandle, 17 Alec Hepburn, 18 Tomas Francis, 19 Ollie Atkins, 20 Thomas Waldrom, 21 Dave Lewis, 22 Sam Hill, 23 James Short.
Wasps: 15 Charles Piutau, 14 Christian Wade, 13 Elliot Daly, 12 Siale Piutau, 11 Frank Halai, 10 Jimmy Gopperth, 9 Dan Robson, 8 Nathan Hughes, 7 George Smith, 6 James Haskell (captain), 5 Bradley Davies, 4 Joe Launchbury, 3 Jake Cooper-Woolley, 2 Carlo Festuccia, 1 Matt Mullan.
Replacements: 16 Ashley Johnson, 17 Simon McIntyre, 18 Lorenzo Cittadini, 19 Will Rowlands, 20 Sam Jones, 21 Joe Simpson, 22 Ruaridh Jackson, 23 Rob Miller.
Referee: Greg Garner
Assistant referees: Tom Foley, Ross Campbell
TMO: Stuart Terheege
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