Leicester must win to be assured of top-flight European rugby next term.

Sixth place might still be good enough, although not if Worcester rip up the form book and beat Bath in the European Challenge Cup final on May 25.

But Tigers would miss out completely if they fail to collect a point against Quins and London Irish beat Edgeley Park hosts Sale Sharks.

To have any chance of reaching the title play-offs, Leicester need a bonus point win against Quins and hope third-placed Sale finish pointless at home to Irish.

And speculation continues to rage about head coach Marcelo Loffreda's future, with South African Dick Muir linked to a possible post earlier this week.

The Springbok management team for the 2008 season will be announced today, Friday, and Muir - currently in charge of the Sharks - has been linked with a position as backs coach under head coach Peter de Villiers.

If Muir's name is absent from the Bok coaching team it will fuel speculation he is on the way to Welford Road.

Loffreda said: ''It has been a transition year and a long season. We have had lots of injuries and there has also been a World Cup.

''It wasn't a great season for the club the last time there was a World Cup either.

''Sometimes things go in cycles and you have to face them and turn them around as quickly as you can.

''That sort of pressure was one of the things that I expected when I came here. I will tackle it with a lot of hard work, commitment and mental toughness.''

Gloucester and Bath, whose play-off spots are already secure, clash at a sold-out Kingsholm tomorrow with first place and a guaranteed home semi-final on offer.

The clubs share 123 Premiership tries this season and Bath head coach Steve Meehan said: ''Bath and Gloucester have come out and showed the majority of people how rugby can be played throughout the season.

''Just because the weather turns bad does not mean you have to go into your shell.

''I think both teams have proved that as they are up the top of the ladder in regards to tries scored, and a lot of them have been scored in different ways.

''Both clubs this season have done a lot for the Premiership.''

Wasps could edge into second place and split the west country domination by beating already-relegated Leeds Carnegie tomorrow, with Sale likely to complete the play-off picture.

England World Cup winner Richard Hill's 15-year Saracens career, meanwhile, comes to an end in the unlikely setting of Milton Keynes tomorrow.

Saracens have switched the game to stadium:mk because their normal Vicarage Road home is required by Watford for the Championship play-offs this weekend.

It will be 71 times-capped Hill's 288th and final Saracens appearance as the Heineken Cup semi-finalists wind down their season.

Saracens have also confirmed the departures this summer of prop Kevin Yates and lock Iain Fullarton, who both joined them from Sale Sharks four years ago.

Tomorrow's other Premiership game sees Worcester hosting Newcastle knowing that victory could take them above the Falcons into 10th place.