Make no mistake, Leicester are charged up for this.

Exeter scrum-half Stu Townsend is given a rude awakening on his first Premiership start as his first kick is charged down.

The experienced Phil Dollman is also feeling the heat as he drops a long Tigers thump forward.

Image source, Getty Images

Owen Williams gets things started for the home side.

It's fifth against second in the Premiership - here we go.

The players come out at Welford Road to a guard of honour and lots of flag-waving.

Who said it was spring? It's wet and pretty muddy in the East Midlands.

Just a reminder that Sale v Northampton kicks off at 20:15 GMT.

The BBC's local radio teams are in place to bring you every second of the action from both Premiership matches tonight.

Former Leicester flanker Steve Johnson is alongside Chris Egerton and Bleddyn Jones for BBC Radio Leicester at Welford Road - the BBC Radio Devon team are also ready and waiting.

A slightly sodden Nathan Middleton is joined by Manchester Evening News' rugby union man Neil Leigh for Sale against Northampton for BBC Radio Manchester. Commentary is also available on BBC Radio Northampton.

You can choose your desired commentary at the top of this page.

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Image source, Rex Features

There were a couple weekends in February where it felt like we had rugby coming out of our ears (not that I'm complaining).

Six Nations, Premiership, Anglo-Welsh Cup - you name it, we've had it over the past month.

However the Six Nations has a rest this weekend, meaning some big-name internationals such as Taulupe Faletau, Billy Vunipola and Anthony Watson have been allowed to play for their club sides.

Will that swing the pendulum back in favour of the so-called bigger teams?

Kai Horstmann, who signed a new one-year contract with Exeter on Thursday, starts for the Chiefs.

Chiefs lock Jonny Hill returns to the bench following his two-week suspension.

Replacements:  Yeandle, Moon, Francis, Hill, S Simmonds, Maunder, J Simmons, Hill.  

Image source, Rex Features

Today's big rugby news was confirmation from the RFU that automatic promotion to the Premiership will be introduced in 2018, with the Championship play-offs being scrapped.

The winners of England's second-tier competition will be promoted if they satisfy 'minimum standard criteria' to play in the top-flight.

Bristol finished top of the Championship five times before finally winning the play-offs in May - do you think this rule change is good for English rugby?

Let us know your thoughts on that and tonight's games using #bbcrugby.

England internationals Tom Youngs and Tom Croft both start for Leicester.

Youngs joins Italy pair Greg Bateman and Michele Rizzo in the front row and Croft partners Brendon O'Connor and Luke Hamilton in the back row.

Replacements:  McGuigan, Genge, Cilliers, M Williams, McCaffrey, Harrison, Burns, Betham.  

Image source, Getty Images and Rex Features

Anyone who works nine 'til five, Monday to Friday, will have a moment when they realise the weekend has finally arrived.

It might be walking out of the office door, or taking that first sip of your favourite tipple - for me however, it's the sound of the referee's whistle as he starts Friday night's Premiership action in front of the lights.

Tonight we have play-off chasing Leicester at home to second placed Exeter, while Sale will want to take themselves further away from the relegation scrap by beating mid-table Northampton.

Welcome.