In a number of ways Round 6 is a significant one for all of our Aviva Premiership sides, first it provides the opportunity to cement or improve their table position heading into the domestic competition's two week break and second has the ability to deliver the momentum required to face Europe's best in the bruising back to back encounters. As expected after five rounds the Aviva Premiership table is tightly congested and one win can instantly push a side up two or three places and a loss provides a significant set back.
The round kicks off at Kingsholm where Gloucester Rugby have an important match against the Sale Sharks. After a more promising start to the year the Cherry and Whites have stuttered and will not have enjoyed their Round 5 experience in the slightest. The pack must deliver a much stronger performance against a tenacious Sharks and out the back they have to click. Sale have made three changes to the side that played Newcastle last weekend with Josh Beaumont, Peter Stringer and Nev Edwards coming in the side, in the place of Magnus Lund, Chris Cusiter and Tom Arscott respectively. Selection from a Gloucester perspective is interesting as David Humphreys has stuck with the side that performed against the Northampton Saints, potentially not what I would have done however his knowledge is greater thank mine so we will see!
Saturday’s order of play starts with a South West London derby as Harlequins will host London Irish at the Twickenham Stoop. The form book dictates that this should be a home victory for a Harlequins side that are ticking along nicely however London Irish did show great strides of improvement against Wasps. After two sterling weeks of work in the back row I’d love to see Dave Ward continue his occupancy of the seven jersey alongside Chris Robshaw and Nick Easter for personally I believe the trio is well balanced. The Exiles should stick largely with the same side that improved against Wasps - their defence was strong and in attack they had much more about them with Johnny Williams and Alex Lewington looking dynamic. In the Premiership London Irish haven’t beaten Quins at the Stoop since the days of Mike Catt, Steffon Armitage and Nick Kennedy and their memorable 17-0 semi-final victory back in 2009. 
The second Saturday offering is at Sixways where the Worcester Warriors will welcome the Leicester Tigers to town. After a tough day at the Twickenham office last week my hope is that the Warriors' Premiership confidence hasn't been dented. The Tigers will arrive with a spring in their step after getting one over the side that they hate to lose to, Bath. The home side will need to be at their physical best against a Tigers team that are superb athletes and collectively more experienced. Without question this will be a stiff test of the Warriors’ impeccable home record, they’ve lost only one of their last 22 home games at Sixways in all competitions, however I expect an affair with a bit of bite to it.
One of the most intriguing matches of the weekend will take place at The Recreation Ground between Bath Rugby and the Northampton Saints. Both aren’t running at their full potential yet, particularly in Bath’s case, and both simply have to record result this weekend to put themselves in a positive position in the table. The clash of the packs will be enthralling for both have taken other teams to the cleaners in recent weeks and it should be a great watch for Eddie Jones! Dave Attwood is set to be fit for Bath which is a huge boost particularly when the Saints have a certain Victor Matfield in their armoury. Out the back we have to see some flair and clinical finishing; in torrid conditions Bath showed their hand slightly against the Tigers however multiple errors cost them and we haven’t seen Saints' backs fully fire yet. Northampton are unbeaten in their last eight Premiership Rugby encounters with Bath however the home side haven’t lost back to back fixtures at the Rec since March 2014. 
The final game on Saturday afternoon is at the Ricoh Arena between Wasps and the Exeter Chiefs. My great hope is that the conditions are dry so that both sides can really open up and show us what they are made of. Their respective backlines speak for themselves, Exeter are the top try scorers after the opening five rounds and Wasps’ backs have been shifting through the gears week on week. As always the back row clash will be sensational, George Smith continues to be a master at work, Nathan Hughes’ statistics and impact are first-class and Dave Ewers was made a staggering 22 tackles last weekend. This match has it all, electric backs, in form fly-halves and forward packs ready to test each other to the max.
On Sunday Kingston Park will open its doors to finish the round as the Newcastle Falcons will host Saracens. Last weekend the Falcons will have been pleased to get off the mark in terms of table points and their key positives from Round 5 were a much stronger defensive display and the work of their forwards. That said Saracens are an altogether different prospect and their imperious five from five domestic form speaks for itself. With respect to the Falcons I can only see this match going one way for at this moment in time Saracens are ruthless in defence and looking extremely positive in attack. 