Freddie Burns punishes Northampton with another cleanly-struck kick and the visitors are just one point behind now.

Northampton concede a penalty in Leicester's half and lose territory. They exchange long kicks downfield and, eventually, from a Tigers scrum just inside the Saints half, they concede another soft penalty, and Leicester might aim for another three points from this...

Freddie Burns opts for the tee from 27m and his kick does the business, bringing Tigers back within four points.

Saints remain seven points up. Adam Thompstone went for the line for the visitors but he momentarily lost control in the tackle and the ball spilled forward by a fraction before being regathered.

This is proper end-to-end stuff though.

Leicester might have the game's fourth try... The referee is going upstairs to have a look.

Louis Picamoles, take a bow. The France number eight does very well indeed down the right and his offload feeds full-back Ahsee Tuala for the game's third try inside 10 minutes.

Stephen Myler's kick restores the hosts' seven-point lead.

An update from around the grounds, and we turn attention to Sandy Park first where Sale have landed the first points of the game against Exeter.

AJ MacGinty slots a superb penalty which had plenty of wind assistance.

Meanwhile, Newcastle continue to lead Harlequins 7-0 a The Stoop.

After conceding, Leicester go on the attack and put pressure on for 12, 13 phases.

Eventually, Ben Youngs pops it up for Adam Thompstone to burst through and he has acres of space to leap over under the posts.

Freddie Burns converts to make it 7-7.

It is a poor error from Tigers full-back Telusa Veainu, perhaps struggling to see the ball in the bright sunshine, as he fails to gather Stephen Myler's high kick and Saint's Nafi Tuitavake pounces to cross for the early try.

Myler easily adds the extras from directly under the posts.

Image source, Getty Images

The hosts Northampton get us started at Franklin's Gardens.

Play is also under way in the matches at Exeter and Harlequins.

The stadium now falls silent as the Premiership remembers those killed in Westminster on Wednesday with a minute's silence.

On a clear Spring afternoon at Franklin's Gardens, the players emerge onto the field for this eagerly-anticipated East Midlands derby.

Kick-off is coming up next!

Image source, Getty Images

This afternoon's derby match will be the last for Leicester boss Aaron Mauger, who has been  overlooked for the head coach role  in favour of ex-Tigers coach Matt O'Connor.

The 36-year-old former All Black has said he is "devastated" that Tigers chose not to appoint him, having been in interim charge of the club since Richard Cockerill was sacked in January.

"The club have made that decision in the best interests of the club, and what they believe going forward, so I have to respect that and move on," he added to BBC Leicester Sport.

Image source, Rex Features

With Newcastle looking for their first win at the Stoop for 17 years, Mark Wilson comes in to replace Evan Olmstead in the second row to allow Callum Chick to play at flanker, while hooker Scott Lawson also starts.

Newcastle:  Tait; Goneva, Waldouck, Socino, Sinoti; Hodgson, Takulua; Vickers, Lawson, Welsh, Green, Wilson, Chick, Welch (capt.), Latu.

Replacements:  Sowrey, Harris, Wilson, Olmstead, Hogg, Young, Delany, Harris.

Image source, Rex Features

Harlequins welcome back a host of internationals for the visit of Newcastle, with the England quartet of Joe Marler, Danny Care, Tim Visser and Mike Brown back following their triumphant Six Nations campaign, while Wales centre Jamie Roberts also starts and Chris Robshaw is set to return from a shoulder injury.

Harlequins:  Brown; Yarde, Marchant, Roberts, Visser; Evans, Care; Marler, Buchanan, Collier, Merrick, Horwill, Robshaw, Ward (capt), Luamanu.

Replacements:  Gray, Lambert, Sinckler, Matthews, Clifford, Mulchrone, Swiel, Alofa.