Premiership Preview: Friday

Two games take place in the Premiership on Friday as Harlequins host Wasps while Newcastle welcome Worcester to Kingston Park.
Harlequins v Wasps
Harlequins’ starting XV remains unchanged from that which played Exeter Chiefs for their game against Wasps on Friday.
Captain Danny Care is again assisted by vice captains Mike Brown and James Horwill.
Nick Evans, who starts at fly-half, and Karl Dickson, the one change to the replacements, will be making their final appearance at The Stoop following their retirement announcements in recent weeks.
Speaking ahead of the match, Harlequins director of rugby John Kingston said: “Wasps are a quality outfit who have deservedly secured their place in the end of season playoffs. This, however, is a massive game for us in our quest to make the Champions Cup next season. It is reassuring to know that we will have a sold out Stoop behind us as we strive to get the right result.”
Meanwhile, Josh Bassett is set to make his 50th appearance for Wasps, as he is named to start on the wing, while Guy Thompson starts at number eight in his 50th Premiership game.
There are just two changes to the starting line-up that took to the field two weeks ago against Bristol, as Wasps prepare to play the penultimate game of the regular Premiership season.
There is one change to the backline, where Dan Robson is named to start at scrum half, with Joe Simpson moving to the bench. Thomas Young returns at openside, with Guy Thompson switching to number eight.
On the bench, Simon McIntyre returns to fitness to take a spot among the replacements, primed for his first involvement since the European quarter-final.
Form: Harlequins have lost their last two Aviva Premiership Rugby matches, to Saracens and Exeter Chiefs, but have not lost three in a row in the tournament since February 2016. The Londoners have won only one of their last five fixtures at Twickenham Stoop in all tournaments: 53-17 over Newcastle Falcons in Premiership Rugby on 25 March. Wasps have won their last five Aviva Premiership encounters since their 28-34 reversal at Sale on 19 February – their only defeat in the competition since mid-November. Wasps have lost only one of their last five fixtures against Harlequins in all competitions: 21-26 in this equivalent fixture in round 1 last year. Wasps’ only victory at Twickenham Stoop in Premiership Rugby since 2007 was by a single point in February 2013.
The teams:
Harlequins: 15 Mike Brown, 14 Marland Yarde, 13 Joe Marchant, 12 Jamie Roberts, 11 Tim Visser, 10 Nick Evans, 9 Danny Care (c), 8 Mat Luamanu, 7 Luke Wallace, 6 Chris Robshaw, 5 James Horwill, 4 Charlie Matthews, 3 Kyle Sinckler, 2 Rob Buchanan, 1 Joe Marler
Replacements: 16 Joe Gray, 17 Mark Lambert, 18 Will Collier, 19 George Merrick, 20 Dave Ward, 21 Karl Dickson, 22 Tim Swiel, 23 Alofa Alofa
Wasps: 15 Willie le Roux, 14 Christian Wade, 13 Elliot Daly, 12 Kurtley Beale, 11 Josh Bassett, 10 Jimmy Gopperth, 9 Dan Robson, 8 Guy Thompson, 7 Thomas Young, 6 James Haskell, 5 Matt Symons, 4 Joe Launchbury (c), 3 Phil Swainston, 2 Tommy Taylor, 1 Matt Mullan
Replacements: 16 Tom Cruse, 17 Simon McIntyre, 18 Jake Cooper-Woolley, 19 Kearnan Myall, 20 Nathan Hughes, 21 Joe Simpson, 22 Danny Cipriani, 23 Alapati Leiua
Date: Friday, April 28
Venue: Twickenham Stoop
Kick-off: 19:45 local (18:45 GMT)
Referee: Wayne Barnes
Assistant Referees: Paul Dix, Simon McConnell
TMO: Sean Davey
Newcastle v Worcester
Sonatane Takulua returns as one of five changes to Newcastle’s team for Friday’s Premiership visit of Worcester Warriors to Kingston Park.
The Tonga scrum-half is the only addition to the Falcons’ back division for their final home game of the regular season, Scottish pair Scott Lawson and Jon Welsh returning to the front-row in a re-jigged forward pack.
Sean Robinson comes in at second row with Callum Chick added to the back row, director of rugby Dean Richards keen for the Falcons to throw their hat in the ring for a European Champions Cup place with just two rounds of regular-season action remaining.
Meanwhile, Worcester have made four changes to the starting line-up ahead of Friday’s trip north.
Winger Bryce Heem returns from suspension in place of Josh Adams, with the Welsh youngster missing through a thigh injury.
Heem was on the scoresheet along with Dewald Potgieter in the North East last season as Warriors edged a tight contest 15-14.
Warriors, who have not lost in Newcastle since 2009, also welcome back Wynand Olivier to the starting line-up in the centre with Jackson Willison out with a hamstring problem.
Ryan Mills captains the side from fly-half in the absence of the rested Donncha O’Callaghan.
The Irishman is replaced by Chris Vui in the second row, meaning Potgieter is recalled to the starting line-up in the back row.
Val Rapava Ruskin also returns to the starting 15 in place of Ryan Bower at loosehead prop.
On the bench, winger Cooper Vuna is back in the squad and could make his first appearance since early January.
Form: Newcastle Falcons have won just one of their last five Aviva Premiership Rugby matches: 16-14 at home to Gloucester Rugby in round 19. The Falcons solitary home defeat in Premiership Rugby in 2017 came when Saracens were the visitors on 5 March. All of Worcester Warriors matches in the last five rounds have been won by the home side on the day. The Warriors have not won away from home in Aviva Premiership Rugby since visiting Harlequins in round 17 last season. Worcester’s only defeat in their last nine encounters with Falcons in all competitions was 11-16 at Sixways in Premiership Rugby in October 2013. The Warriors have not lost at Kingston Park since November 2009.
The teams:
Newcastle: 15 Marcus Watson, 14 Vereniki Goneva, 13 Chris Harris, 12 Juan Pablo Socino, 11 Sinoti Sinoti, 10 Joel Hodgson, 9 Sonatane Takulua, 8 Callum Chick, 7 Will Welch (c), 6 Mark Wilson, 5 Sean Robinson, 4 Calum Green, 3 Jon Welsh, 2 Scott Lawson, 1 Rob Vickers
Replacements: 16 Kyle Cooper, 17 Ben Harris, 18 Scott Wilson, 19 Opeti Fonua, 20 Will Witty, 21 Sam Egerton, 22 Craig Willis, 23 Alex Tait
Worcester: 15 Chris Pennell, 14 Bryce Heem, 13 Wynand Olivier, 12 Ben Te’o, 11 Perry Humphreys, 10 Ryan Mills (c), 9 Francois Hougaard, 8 Marco Mama, 7 Sam Lewis, 6 Dewald Potgieter, 5 Will Spencer, 4 Chris Vui, 3 Biyi Alo, 2 Joe Taufete’e, 1 Val Rapava Ruskin
Replacements: 16 Jack Singleton, 17 Ryan Bower, 18 Gareth Milasinovich, 19 Darren Barry, 20 Alafoti Faosiliva, 21 Luke Baldwin, 22 Ryan Lamb, 23 Cooper Vuna
Date: Friday, April 28
Venue: Kingston Park
Kick-off: 20:00 local (19:00 GMT)
Referee: Greg M Garner
Assistant Referees: John Meredith, Roger Baileff
TMO: Stuart Terheege