The matches should see two wins for the capital as the London clubs try to keep the pressure on the Midlanders leading the way this season.

Third-placed Wasps travel to bottom club West Hartlepool, while Saracens in fourth entertain 13th-placed Bedford.

Leicester and Northampton currently lead the way, with the Saints travelling to Sale on Saturday and the Tigers having a weekend off.

So it is essential for the capital's top two to make sure form carries the day against clubs equally in need of points for different reasons.

West Hartlepool v Wasps

Wasps make as many as five changes in their pack for their trip to the north east.

The entire front-row is replaced to bring in Andy Le Chevalier, Simon Mitchell and Will Green.

Simon Shaw takes Andy Reed's place at lock and Peter Scrivener is chosen in the back-row for Joe Worsley.

Green is back after 'flu and the other four were all substitutes last week.

West Hartlepool make three changes with scrum half Tu Nu'uali'iata back for Simon Stone after three weeks off with concussion.

The home side will also experiment with another squad scrum-half, Tony Handley, who will be on the wing for the first time instead of Gareth McLure.

Tim Collier also makes his debut on-loan from Harlequins at lock in place of James Ponton.

Saracens v Bedford

Saracens lack three Test players after weekend injuries to flanker Francois Pienaar and half-backs Kyran Bracken and Marcus Olsen.

Pienaar has a foot problem but Saracens can replace him with England's Richard Hill - back after a hand injury.

Bracken is out with concussion and Penaud with a dead leg, so Marcus Olsen makes his first start of the season at scrum-half.

Gavin Johnson moves to stand-off from full-back, with Matt Singer filling in at the back.