Leicester Tigers vs Harlequins Prediction: Tigers to show their claws at Welford Road

Leicester Tigers and Harlequins are going in search of their first Gallagher Prem wins of the season on Saturday (15:05, TNT Sports 1) when they face off at Mattoli Wood Welford Road.

Alex Jack provides his best bets in his Leicester Tigers vs Harlequins prediction piece, as well as all the essential team news and match odds for the encounter in the East Midlands.

Team News

Leicester have Nicky Smith, Charlie Clare and Joe Heyes in the front row, with Cameron Henderson and Ollie Chessum starting in the second row.

The Tigers’ pack is completed with a back row of Joaquin Moro, Emeka Ilione and Olly Cracknell, while Jack van Poortvliet and Orlando Bailey are the half-back pairing.

Joseph Woodward and Solomone Kata are the centres, while Leicester have pace to burn in a back three of Ollie Hassell Collins, Adam Radwan and Freddie Steward.

As for Harlequins, Fin Baxter, Jack Walker and Harry Williams form the front row, with locks Chandler Cunningham-South and Kieran Treadwell in the engine room.

Jack Kenningham, Will Evans and Alex Dombrandt complete the pack, with Will Porter and Jarrod Evans in the half-backs.

Jamie Benson and Oscar Beard get the start in the centres, while Quins go with a back three of Cassius Cleaves, Nick David and Tyrone Green.

Leicester Tigers vs Harlequins Odds

At 1/7, Leicester Tigers are the heavy favourites to claim the win on Saturday, while Harlequins are 5/1 to head back to London with the victory.

A draw in the East Midlands is 20/1, while Leicester to win by over 12 points is priced at 10/11.

Leicester Tigers -15 handicap @ 13/10

Quins hit the ground running with a hat-trick of tries inside the first 30 minutes of their opening game against Bath at the Twickenham Stoop last week.

But Harlequins could not maintain the pace and it was reigning Prem champions Bath who stormed back to win 47-31 in the capital.

Quins’ soft underbelly was exposed and conceding seven tries at home was hardly the start coach Jason Gilmore would have hoped for.

Leicester also started strong in their game away at Bristol on the opening weekend to be level 17-17 at the break but the Bears charged away in the second half to win 42-24 at Ashton Gate.

Back at Welford Road, which should be a fortress for new head coach Geoff Parling and his side, Leicester should have enough to not only beat Quins but cover the spread in the process.

The visitors will still be without Marcus Smith after his British & Irish Lions efforts over the summer and his absence means Harlequins may not have the creativity to win this game on the road.

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