With the PREM set to return this weekend following the European break, the race for the play-offs is fully back underway.
It seems only weeks ago that the top four was a foregone conclusion, but as always, the PREM has thrown up some pretty ridiculous results to once again create an intriguing fight for league places.
Even with three of the four spots already booked, Northampton Saints, Bath and Leicester Tigers are fighting it out for a home tie in the semi-finals, while Exeter Chiefs, Saracens and Bristol are all set to scrap it out for the final place.
But, with so much still to play for, which teams have the hardest fixtures? Ahead of round 17, here’s how each team’s run-in ranks.
To do so, we’ve added together the current league positions of each of the six clubs’ remaining fixtures, and the team with the lowest score is deemed the one with the toughest run-in. Therefore, the side with the highest also has the easiest.
So, on that idea, here’s where the teams stand looking towards the latter stages of the PREM season.
5th: Northampton Saints – 17
They already have their place booked in the next round, but Northampton have it somewhat easier than their rivals heading into the last two games of the season.
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Phil Dowson’s men, fresh off their 94-33 win over Bristol Bears last weekend, take on ninth-placed Gloucester in their next fixture, before ending their regular season campaign against eighth-placed Harlequins.
While victories are not guaranteed, with both sides enjoying somewhat of an upturn in form over the past few weeks, Northampton have the two lowest-ranked opponents of anyone in the top half of the table at this stage in the season, and could confirm their home semi-final sooner rather than later as a result.
4: Saracens – 12
Mark McCall’s side are peaking at just the right time for a late play-off push, and they have a fairly kind run-in as well.
Again, this is just based on current league standings, with Harlequins actually having the better of this rivalry in recent times, but the point remains, given Saracens sit three places above them in the table. However, it seems it is all building up nicely for a winner-takes-all meeting between them and fourth-placed Exeter on the final day.
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Given where they were just a few months ago, this is some turnaround, and it could be about to get even better.
=3: Bristol Bears and Bath – 9
The West Country rivals are sitting at slightly different ends of the play-off race, with Bath already booked into the semi-finals and Bristol down in sixth, but they both have a pretty tough run-in.
They actually come face-to-face in round 17, a game which often delivers fireworks and brings the best out of the two sides. It gets a little bit easier for Bristol after that, as they take on Sale Sharks, but Alex Sanderson’s side will have a lot to play for with an Investec Champions Cup spot still up for grabs so that won’t be a walk in the park.
Johann van Graan’s men take on third-placed Leicester Tigers on the final day of the season, in what could be a shootout for the final home semi with Geoff Parling’s side already pencilled in for the end-of-season dance.
2: Exeter Chiefs – 8
A few weeks ago it seemed Exeter were cantering to a play-off place for the first time since 2021, but the pressure has been ramped up by recent losses and it’s not going to get easier either.
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Rob Baxter’s side have a pretty tough fixture list to get through if they want to book a semi-final place, with third-placed Leicester Tigers lying in wait in round 17 before that huge meeting with Saracens on the final day of the season. It’s make-or-break time for the Chiefs now, and they don’t have it easy by any means.
1: Leicester Tigers – 6
They might already have a spot in the play-offs, but Leicester actually have the hardest run-in on paper, which could dent their hopes of a home tie.
Fourth-placed Exeter are up next, with the Devonians also in search of a play-off place of their own, before they take on second-placed Bath on the final day. Having a spot in the knockouts does take a bit of pressure off their plate, but Leicester want a home semi-final, and wins in the next two games are crucial in getting them there.
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