Leicester Tigers vs Harlequins Prediction: Tigers ready to roar past momentum-less Quins

Harlequins have lost their last two league games on either side of a 62-0 shellacking at Leinster in the Champions Cup and appear to be seeing their form dissipate at precisely the wrong time.

Quins remain in the play-off running but their chances look set to suffer with another defeat on Saturday at Leicester, who, despite having their issues, begin the weekend second in the table. Read on for my Leicester Tigers vs Harlequins prediction.

Rugby Union Odds

The Tigers turned it on to beat Bristol 36-19 last weekend and only a fourth win from seven home games this season would be timely.

Leicester and Harlequins drew 34-34 in December and the Tigers' purring attack can put on a similar score against a Quins side struggling for rhythm.

Team News

Leicester have made three changes to their matchday 23, with Kyle Hatherell included at number eight due to Olly Cracknell's concussion.

Among the replacements, Dan Cole and Harry Wells replace Will Hurd and Matt Rogerson, providing 550 games of experience from the bench.

Quins name George Hammond in the second row, resulting in Chandler Cunningham-South reverting to blindside flanker, while Lewis Gjaltema comes in at scrum-half following injuries to Will Porter and Danny Care.

Leicester Tigers vs Harlequins Odds

Leicester are 3/10 to win on Saturday, with Quins 13/5 and the draw 22/1.

Leicester Tigers -13 @ 6/4

Leicester may have struggled at Welford Road but now is the time to right those wrongs, with three of their final four regular-season games scheduled at home.

While Bath are all but guaranteed a home semi-final, just five points separate the second-placed Tigers on 46 and Gloucester in sixth on 41.

Quins are seventh on 38, with champions Northampton on 33, and any of the top eight could finish in the top four.

Now is the time of the season to build momentum but Harlequins look to be losing theirs, and Leicester can take advantage.

News that Michael Cheika wouldn't be extending his one-year stint in the East Midlands impacted their form, and there is still uncertainty over who will replace him.

Fly-half Handre Pollard is also off in the summer but both will want to go out with a bang and Pollard can win his duel with England's Marcus Smith.

Smith has struggled to get his team going in the 47-28 loss at Bath and the 43-29 home defeat to Sale, with his forwards letting him down, while the one-sided Leinster game was a write-off.

As a Springbok, Pollard is known for his pragmatic approach. However, pragmatism doesn't mean defensive, it means finding the best ways to use the tools available to you and he has shown a penchant for playing what is in front of him and sparking the Tigers' attack.

With Smith struggling, Pollard can pick apart a defence that has conceded an average of 50.1 points in its last three games to set Leicester up for a big win in their quest for a top-four finish.

Rugby Union Betting Tips from Betfred Insights