A warm welcome to the first of three bumper weekends of international and domestic rugby. Naturally these few weeks will present an interesting challenge for a number of Premiership squads while others will see them as a opportunity. Round 8 starts with three Friday night fixtures before a solitary Saturday match and a duo on Sunday finish off the weekend. With so much going on I might take the opportunity to mix up the Out On The Full coverage with some audio bulletins and reviews so watch this space!!
Sixways will open its doors for a set of Friday night lights and Carl Hogg’s side welcome Northampton Saints. The Saints’ most recent victory on the road was back in Round 2 but they have lost just one of their last seven matches against Worcester. The home side will be looking to prey on the slightly shaky early season form of Jim Mallinder's side and welcome back Ryan Mills and Cooper Vuna into their starting line-up. Northampton Saints’ Ben Foden makes his 200th appearance for the club in a side that will be controlled by Lee Dickson and Stephen Myler in the half-backs. Of course Saints will be working without the firepower of Louis Picamoles and the question is how much will this affect them?
The Recreation Ground will be set for its first Premiership Bath versus Bristol derby of the season as old acquaintances are finally renewed in England's top domestic competition. Bath have lost just once at The Rec since February and are able to name Taulupe Faletau in their starting line-up! I can hear the Bath fans' cheering from here!! However, they are without their outstanding half-back axis of Kahn Fotuali’i and George Ford so the onus will be on Darren Allison and Rhys Priestland to take charge. For the first time this season Bristol have the confidence of coming off the back of a victory and will have taken plenty of encouragement from their recent Challenge Cup meeting with Bath. Acting head coach Mark Tainton has said that his players are ‘playing without fear’ and are ready to ‘embrace the occasion’ and they'll need to do just that. Conditions are likely to play a factor with rain falling fairly heavily in Bath ahead of kick-off and I'm sure that ground will be rocking for this big derby clash. 
Newcastle Falcons’ last three fixtures have all been won by the home side on the day but they haven’t won successive matches at Kingston Park since February. Exeter Chiefs have lost their last three Premiership rounds and haven't had a start of the season to remember. It’s an interesting match up as the Chiefs’ confidence isn't rock solid right now and we all know that Newcastle have the potential to frustrate sides at Kingston Park. After injures Vereniki Goneva and Opeti Fonua are both returning to Falcons’ bench and it’s fair to say that together they provide plenty of firepower. Rob Baxter has said that now it is time for his side to ‘put their foot down’ in the competition and in order to do that nothing less than a victory will suffice. Gareth Steenson will be hugely important, as captain and as their fly-half, for it will be up to him to keep order and orchestrate the game. Exeter’s only Premiership loss to Newcastle in ten previous meetings was back in October 2014 but this time there are likely to be a few more nerves than usual. 
Gloucester Rugby have won just once in the last eight rounds of Aviva Premiership Rugby and have lost their last four at home in the competition. The start to Wasps’ season has been more impressive but interestingly they haven’t won away from home in any competition since 24th September. The Cherry and Whites come into this match off the back of a number of positive contract extension announcements but are without captain Greig Laidlaw who makes them tick. James Hook slots in at full-back with Willi Heinz and Billy Burns in the half-backs. Wasps have won on just three of their last 10 Premiership visits to Kingsholm but have shown the type of form required to deliver another victory on Saturday. Wasps’ XV is an impressive showcase of their squad depth and with a backline containing Dan Robson, Danny Cipriani, Christian Wade, Kyle Eastmond and Jimmy Gopperth Gloucester will have a lot to think about defensively. 
Sale Sharks have lost only one of their last four Premiership matches and we all know that their record at the AJ Bell Stadium is a strong one but they are meeting the reigning champions. Saracens’ own record speaks for itself with one loss in their last 14 Premiership fixtures and their squad is such that Mark McCall’s XV remains a head-turning one even without the like of Owen Farrell, Alex Goode and the Vunipolas. Andrew Fenby will make his Premiership debut for the club at full-back and Alex Lozowski will take the reins at 10. Sale will be up for the encounter as they have captain Josh Beaumont, Will Addison and AJ MacGinty all returning to their starting XV. Sam Tuitupou is making his first start and Rob Webber could finally get a home debut after an early season injury. Sale are a confident tea, at home and will be relishing the opportunity to have a go at Saracens but I expect the leaders of the pack to show plenty of resilience in Manchester.
Leicester Tigers’ form at Welford Road has helped promote them into their promising position in the table and this match will be about continuing in that manner. Harlequins also are best at home because they have only won once away from The Stoop in their last ten trips in Aviva Premiership Rugby. John Kingston’s side are without their key international players across the park and we know historically that usually means a dip in form. The visitors will be thankful to have Marland Yarde back in their backline and Aaron Morris is making his first start at full-back. Meanwhile in the forwards James Horwill captains the side and Dave Ward slots into the seven jersey after getting re-acquainted with the position in the Anglo-Welsh Cup. For the Tigers Tom Croft is set for his first league appearance of the season with Ellis Genge back from England’s camp and starting in their front row alongside Tom Greg Bateman. 