Harlequins vs Gloucester Prediction: Quins can claim a morale-boosting victory

Harlequins have had an awful league season, only winning twice and currently sitting ninth in the Prem table.

Their home Champions Cup round-of-16 tie against Sale on April 3 already looks like it could save their season but before that, they have league fixtures against Gloucester and Bristol.

The Cherry and Whites sit eighth, a point better off than Quins and won 26-15 when these two clashed at Kingsholm on November 29.

However, they have failed to win on the road in this season's Prem and are the underdogs to correct that issue on Saturday. Read on for my Harlequins vs Gloucester predictions.

Harlequins vs Gloucester Odds

Harlequins are 4/9 to win for the third time this season, with Gloucester 2/1 to break their away duck.

The tie is 18/1 and Harlequins -5 on the three-way handicap is priced at 10/11.

Team News

Fly-half Marcus Smith, wing Cadan Murley and flanker Jack Kenningham all start for Harlequins, having either played for, or been part of England's wider training group in recent weeks.

However, utility forward Chandler Cunningham-South and Wales fly-half Jarrod Evans are among several players not considered due to rest.

England's Seb Atkinson and Arthur Clark, and Wales' Tomos Williams and Freddie Thomas, return for Gloucester, while Wales U20s skipper, Deian Gwynne, is on the bench.

Harlequins -7 @ 20/21

Gloucester made two big off-field appointments during the Six Nations break, confirming that experienced Kiwi coach Chris Boyd has joined as Technical Director with immediate effect, while Rob Burgess has been appointed with a role overseeing several areas, notably recruitment.

Burgess comes in from April 1, and he, Boyd and head coach George Skivington's focus is likely to be on bringing more grit to a team that often plays fabulous flowing rugby, but usually loses the forward battle.

The same can be said for Quins, who started the season behind everyone else in their preparation due to head coach Danny Wilson departing to take up a role with Wales just a fortnight or so before the campaign began.

Interim boss Jamie Gilmore has already said they are "dreaming big" about Europe and domestic fixtures could fall by the wayside as they look ahead to next month's tie with Sale, with a win setting up an away quarter-final against either Leinster or Edinburgh.

However, considering the other two have come at home, a third league win of the season should be theirs.

With the sun forecast to shine and Smith pulling the strings, this looks like a chance to build some momentum and Quins should be backed to win by a converted score or more.

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