Leicester v Harlequins on Saturday is pretty much the biggest game of the season so far. That may seem a funny thing to say given that it is eighth versus ninth in the Aviva Premiership but the consequences of not winning are unthinkable for either club.

The league table is starting to take shape now with Exeter and Saracens up front, Northampton, Worcester and London Irish at the bottom, and seven clubs scrambling for two play-off spots and four Champions Cup places in between. The losers at Welford Road will suddenly be cut off from the chasing pack.

Quins are coming into the game off one of their worst ever defeats, a 44-22 home loss to Wasps who were down to 14 men inside 17 minutes. Leicester also suffered a disappointing 24-17 defeat at Gloucester. Tigers have bad seasons before but somehow they have always managed to qualify for the play-offs. They simply have to win.

So why in a week where there are no Six Nations games are those clubs not able to call upon their England players? I appreciate this is built into the agreement between the RFU and Premiership Rugby but it makes no sense to me.

The clubs pay at least 80 per cent of these players’ wages. Unlike the situation in Wales, Ireland and Scotland, the players are the clubs’ assets that the RFU hires. Of course, England games take precedence, but why in a fallow week are Leicester and Harlequins not able to call upon their best players for a season-defining game?