Premiership preview: Rugby betting

The Premiership race cranks up another notch this weekend, with several ties looking crucial to the outcome at the top. London Irish v Harlequins and Saracens v Wasps look the choice clashes of the six-match programme and the former is considered good enough to be live on Sky Sports.

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Both Irish and Harlequins have hit a hot streak in the last few weeks and the Exiles have lost just a single game in their last 11 at the Madejski Stadium in Reading. In contrast, Dean Richard's visitors have lost just one game in their last eight, and to be fair, it was stirling effort to go down only 29-25 last month to a pumped-up Wasps at Adam's Park.

Harlequins have had the upper hand against Irish this campaign, winning the season curtain-raiser at Twickenham 35-27, when a virtuoso performance by fly-half Chris Malone sealed the five points. Quins then went on to beat Irish in Reading, 10-8 in the EDF Energy Cup, so it is easy to see why they are priced at around the 6/4 mark for victory.

Quins welcome back England winger David Strettle, whereas Irish  have picked scrum-half Peter Richards at outside-centre.

Saracens have been in patchy form to say the least this year, and their gutsy win over the Ospreys in the Heineken Cup, followed by their 39-15 demolition at Gloucester last weekend highlights this fact. Wasps are finishing the season with their customary late rattle. At the beginning of March they were in seventh place in the table and yet they go into this match clinging on to a top-four place with a game in hand.

Interestingly, Wasps haven't won at Vicarage Road since October 2003, and although Sarries are prone to some awful stuff, when they are up for the challenge they can beat almost anyone. This will be Wasps' third match in nine days and unlike football, rugby is an attritional sport, so Ian McGeechan's side will be feeling the effects.

Sarries coach Alan Gaffney names a powerful pack, with Census Johnson and Fabio Ongaro the pick of the four who come in up front after last week's defeat at Kingsholm. At around 13/8, the Men in Black look a tremendous bet back on their own turf as this simply looks one step too far for weary Wasps.

Verdict: 3pts Saracens @ 13/8

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