Ealing Trailfinders vs Leicester Tigers Prediction: Points to flow in West-London

Although there is a whole division separating these sides, this should not be billed as a David vs Goliath cup match. Ealing have been building a squad over a number of year, with genuine premiership ambitions and internationals littered throughout their team. They are presented with an opportunity today to put a marker down and demonstrate how far this side has come.

Ealing are top of the Championship league, with an 8 point gap to 2^nd place. winning all but 1 of their 10 games this season. In the group round of this competition Ealing topped their group comfortably, although I would caveat that both Northampton and Bristol named inexperienced sides during their group matches. Even so, this Ealing side is certainly trending in the right direction and will certainly be up for the challenge today.

Leicester are well positioned in mid-table of the Premiership in 6th place and only 3 points away from the play-offs. They are also still in the Champions Cup, but are faced with the small task of travelling to Dublin to take on Leinster. Whilst still invested in two crucial competitions, I do question Leicester's level of motivation and wonder if their focus will be on the games to come..

Team News

Ealing 

Ealing have a big pack and will certainly compete with Tigers. Goodrick-Clarke, Cornish and Alo combine together in a front-row that have all played in the Premiership. De Wee and Maddison are in the Locks, with Farrar, Smid and Reid in the back row. Smid is a South African bulldozing ball carrier and one player that Leicester will need to be mindful of.

In the backs, Hampson will offer quick ball from Scrum Half, and ex Leicester Fly-Half Lancaster will be his partner today. Former England International Twelvetrees is at 12 with Bird-Tulloch at 13. Cordy-Redden is on the left-wing, and Holmes - who has 7 caps for Wales - is on the right-wing. Finally, Bodilly will marshal things from full-back. Watch out for Namibian international Richard Hardwick on the bench in the second half too.

Leicester

Leicester have a good side here today but missing their big names. Up front will be Van Wyk, Theobald-Thomas and Richardson, with Wells and Hatherell behind them. Skipper Liebenberg will be a key carrier for Tigers with Rogerson and Cracknell partnering him in the back row.

Out wide Whiteley and Shillcock are at 9 and 10 today with no Pollard and Youngs included. Cokanasgia gets a rare start and is at 12 today with Kelly outside him. Finally Hassell-Collins, Matt Scott and Mike Brown make up the back-three.

Bet Reasoning

I foresee both sides scoring points today. Ealing play with a high tempo and have a forward pack that will go toe-to-toe with Tigers so I definitely see Ealing causing them problems. Tigers have shown more attacking intent recently and were playing to width more than I expected vs Harlequins. With people like Hassell-Collins they will look to get him the ball in space. Rain is around this morning but will clear before kick-off leaving good conditions on Ealing's artificial surface.