Davies: Gloucester director of rugby

The west country club's gripping victory over Leicester last weekend extended their impressive run to seven victories and a draw since Northampton toppled them on September 1.

And despite conceding a combined total of 130 points on their last three clashes against Quins at the Twickenham Stoop, Gloucester's form suggests they can carry realistic victory hopes with them to London.

"Quins will be strong," said Cherry and Whites director of rugby Davies.

"You don't win this league without having a strong squad of players and they did it with some style last season. They are the champions and will be favourites this weekend.

"We have just got to turn up with the same mentality we've had all season, to fight hard for the shirt and for each other.

"It is early days yet. There is a long way to go, but last weekend was a fabulous win for us against Leicester on what was a fabulous occasion.

"We focused on certain things at the start of the season, and one of those was to produce that bloody-mindedness to be able to win games and grind out results.

"They are not the most attractive things sometimes in the game, but you have to do them well in order to stay in games and get the result."

The Gloucester line-up also includes wing James Simpson-Daniel, whose blistering form has made many pundits wonder what England might be missing.

Davies added: "James is an international wing. Whether he plays international rugby or not is not my call.

"When you look at your outside backs, you have got to have an x-factor, but also be very solid and make good rugby decisions. He does all of those things."

Northampton are affected by injuries for their east midlands derby clash against Leicester at Welford Road on Saturday.

The absentees include Dylan Hartley, Courtney Lawes and Stephen Myler, while England calls mean scrum-half Lee Dickson and flanker Tom Wood are unavailable as Saints look to avoid a third successive defeat in all competitions.

Flanker Calum Clark, though, is back after serving a 32-week ban imposed for foul play against Leicester in last season's LV= Cup final.

"We have looked at our past performances and there have been bits where we've played well and bits where we haven't," Northampton rugby director Jim Mallinder said.

"Of course, we've worked on those areas, and while it is going to be a massive challenge at Welford Road it is one that we are up for."

Exeter will aim to end a run of three defeats - two in Europe and one Premiership loss - when they tackle Worcester at Sandy Park on Saturday.

"Mentally, I don't think we were quite there in that first half last week (against Bath)," Chiefs assistant coach Ali Hepher said.

"However, it showed in the second half when we were on our game that we can cause sides a lot of trouble.

"All week we've emphasised to the guys that they need to turn up in the right frame of mind to get anything out of the game.

"As always, we have tweaked parts of our game based on the opposition, but the main aim will be for us to continue making Sandy Park a tough place to come and play and making sure our mental approach is right."

Worcester will climb above Exeter if they win, but Warriors head coach Richard Hill accepts it represents a tough task.

"In their last two Premiership home games, they have beaten Harlequins and Saracens, so they are not very easy to beat at Sandy Park," he said.

"They've lost their last three games in all competitions, though, so one or two doubts might start to creep into their heads.

"They will be thinking they've got to beat us and they will have a bit of pressure on them, so we've got to try and capitalise on any uncertainty."

Sunday's Premiership action sees Bath visiting top-flight newcomers London Welsh, while Saracens play their first game at Vicarage Road in Watford since May when Wasps are the visitors.

London Welsh and Bath have not met each other since a domestic cup fixture in 1987, and Saracens go into battle after losing just one game this season, a 14-12 defeat at Exeter six weeks ago.