Paul Grayson
Ex-England fly-half at Kingsholm

Leicester are favourites because of the quality and balance they have across the whole team. 

They have out and out pace in Veainu and JP Pieterson on the wings, power and guile in the centre and a bit of devil at half back with Freddie Burns in an intriguing head to head with his brother Billy. 

Up front Tom Youngs leads the charge as captain and I expect Tigers will fancy their chances in the scrum with quality on the pitch and the bench.

Apart from following our live text commentary here, you can also listen to live BBC Radio commentary by clicking on the 'Live Coverage' tab above.

As well as listening to your choice of BBC local radio station, you can also hear BBC Radio 5 Live commentary of Gloucester v Leicester Tigers, with Chris Jones joined by ex-England fly-half Paul Grayson from 19:45 BST.

Image source, Getty Images

BBC Sport has picked out five young players to watch in this season's Premiership.

Click here to see who made the line-up.

Sale give debuts to six new signings, including fly-half AJ MacGinty and Wales international Mike Phillips.

Captain Josh Beaumont starts at blindside flanker as they aim to repeat their final-day win at Kingston Park.

Replacements: Briggs, Flynn, Longbottom, Mills, Lund, Seymour, Mitchell, Mugford.  

Fiji international back Vereniki Goneva makes his Newcastle bow after joining from Leicester in the summer.

Prop Jon Welsh makes his first Premiership appearance since January after toe surgery, but Adam Powell and Nili Latu are long-term absentees.

Replacements: Sowrey, Rogers, Lockwood, Fonua, Chick, Egerton, Hodgson, Waldouck.  

There is also a feast of domestic rugby union taking place tomorrow and the BBC has live text and radio commentary to keep you up-to-date with every kick.

Here's what's coming up on Saturday...

14:00: Saracens v Worcester

15:30: Northampton v Bath

16:30: Harlequins v Bristol 

Although none of the half-dozen superstars we chose are playing this evening, this is still worth a watch!

You can also click here to read more about the imports ready to light up the Premiership this season.

Sale begin life without their talismanic fly-half Danny Cipriani, who moved to Wasps over the summer.

But director of rugby Steve Diamond feels he still has enough quality in his squad to compete.

"We've got financial stability behind the scenes, we've recruited early, and we've signed all our young players on three and four-year contracts," he told BBC North West Tonight.

"It gives security, and people tend to train and play better when they have that security behind them.

"We've got consistency now and we think, with the recruits that we've brought in, we'll be looking to hopefully push at the business end for the top four."

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Newcastle director of rugby appears to still be smarting from the Falcons' 21-15 home defeat by Sale on the final day of last season.

But the former Leicester and England number 8 feels he has a better squad for the 2016-17 campaign.

"They beat us in the last game of last season, so we're pretty disappointed by that and have a bit of a point to prove," the 53-year-old said.

"They'll come to take us on physically up front because they've got that type of pack, so it's going to be a hard, bruising game.

"I think we've got a much better squad than we had last year - everybody's vying for positions."

It's that time of year, right? Optimism is in the air as Gloucester director of rugby David Humphreys aims for the title with the Cherry and Whites.

But what do you think? Who will win the Premiership this season? Which team are you backing?

Get involved and let us know via #bbcrugby on Twitter.

BBC Sport's Rob Stevens has taken a look at the teams to look out for this campaign.

Can Sarries make it three domestic titles in a row?

Click here to read more.

Image source, Getty Images

Chris Jones
BBC Radio 5 live at Kingsholm

As always the Gloucester faithful have poured into the Shed hours before kick-off, and Kingsholm is an absolute picture tonight, bathed in glorious late summer sunshine.

But the Cherry and Whites' supporters are well aware their side have been punching below their weight in recent campaigns - an eighth-placed finish was again below par last season.

It will be fascinating to see how the Leicester backline goes tonight, with the Springbok World-Cup winner JP Pietersen adding to an attack laden with firepower.

Tigers' new signings JP Pietersen and Luke Hamilton will make their debuts at Kingsholm.

Pietersen, a 2007 World Cup winner with South Africa, starts on the wing, with Welshman Hamilton in the back row. 

Replacements: McGuigan, Genge, Cole, Kitchener, Evans, Ben Youngs, Smith, Thompstone.  

Gloucester hand Scotland centre Matt Scott his debut, but they are still without England wing Jonny May.

The 26-year-old is not expected to return until October as he recovers from a knee injury.

Replacements: Dawidiuk, McAllister, Doran-Jones, Latta, Rowan, Heinz, Hook, Evans.  

Image source, Getty Images

'Get the points on the board', appears to be the message of Leicester Tigers' new captain Tom Youngs.

The 29-year-old England hooker replaced Ed Slater as skipper in July and urged his side to be more ruthless.

"It comes down to winning, if we win ugly I don't care, I just want the four points," he told BBC Radio Leicester.

"Our defence was a bit off and on last year which we have been addressing, We need to be more ruthless at times, like when we're chasing a bonus point."

Image source, Getty Images

It's definitely seems a bold statement from Humphreys, considering the Cherry and Whites' eighth-place finish last term, but the 44-year-old has plenty of confidence in his team's ability.

"We know this is a big season for us. We have to be better than we were last year. We have to move up the table," he told BBC Radio Gloucestershire.

"Our ambition is very clear - we want to win the Premiership this year. That's a big statement, but we believe, with the players we have, we're in good shape to go forward.

"We are setting our standards high. We believe that, with the players we have, we've got to go out with that ambition to win the Premiership."

Gloucester team news is coming up...

'Double, double' winners Sarries are not in action until tomorrow, when they start their campaign at home to Worcester.

But tonight there is a stellar line-up to kick things off.

At 19:45 BST, Gloucester take on 10-time top-flight champions Leicester at Kingsholm.

Then, at 20:00 BST, it's Newcastle against Danny Cipriani-less Sale Sharks.

And Gloucester director of rugby David Humphreys has certainly been talking up his side's chances of success this season...

Image source, Getty Images

It seems only a matter of moments since Saracens were lifting their second successive Premiership trophy.

Just 96 days ago to be precise. But as summers do, it's been and almost gone, and therefore it's time to get down to business.

The Premiership is back. Ready? Excited? Of course you are!