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More joy for Leicester this year?

PREMIERSHIP SEMI-FINALS
Wasps v Bath
Sunday, 1.30pm, Sky Sports 2
Gloucester v Leicester
Sunday, 4.30pm, Sky Sports 2

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The Rugby Club spoke to the key figures ahead of a nerve-jangling Guinness Premiership semi-final weekend.

We spoke to some of the key figures at all four clubs to get their thoughts ahead of Sunday's clashes.

Gloucester v Leicester - Sunday, 4.30pm, Sky Sports 2

Tom Varndell (Leicester)

We went down there and got the win and that's going to be in the back of our minds knowing we've done it before. We've got a slightly stronger team now with the boys back from the World Cup, but so have Gloucester. They'll be desperate for the win, desperate to get revenge for what happened in the Guinness Premiership final last year and it's going to be a tough game.

Iain Balshaw (Gloucester)

We're getting our detail right during the week and that's helping a tremendous amount come game time. We've learned a valuable lesson from last year; we'd done so much hard work throughout the nine months of the season and were pipped at the post by Leicester, who battered us. I don't think we were really prepared for that last year, but this year the boys have got a real focus and a real determination.

Martin Corry (Leicester)

We're going down there full of confidence and the previous nine months count for nothing. We're going down there and it's a winner-takes-all game.

Mike Tindall (Gloucester)

Form our point of view we've just got to make sure that we're mentally switched on and we bring the intensity that we've brought in the last two weeks. That's been outstanding from us and if we can do that at our patch we're going to be difficult to beat.

Marcelo Loffreda (Leicester head coach)

I think Gloucester have been the best team during the year, but games are games. You have to play 80, 85 or 90 minutes, you have to be very concentrated and as I said in the World Cup, this kind of game is maybe for the one who is better in his mind and in his mental preparation.

Dean Ryan (Gloucester head coach)

Playing a play-off game is very different to playing in a league game. There's no bonus points on offer, therefore sides will take different risks as the game comes to a close. I think it's important that we get our mindset right and understand we're now in a different tournament and we've got to play accordingly.

Wasps v Bath - Sunday, 1.30pm, Sky Sports 2

Shaun Edwards (Wasps head coach)

It's been a marvellous achievement to only lose two games since the World Cup - both those games against Gloucester who ended up number one. I said if we made it then it would be my greatest coaching achievement, but it's not about me - I was probably just a bit down and depressed at the time I said that!

Steve Meehan (Bath head coach)

It depends on who we meet in the final, but this game could be the toughest game yet to come. Wasps in their own back yard is tough in comparison to Worcester in the Challenge Cup final at a neutral venue and the Premiership final at Twickenham. Both sides are very physical and they'll have strength behind them, so we've got to be mentally switched on and concentrate for the 80 minutes. It will be a relentless 80, there's no doubt about that.

Lawrence Dallaglio (Wasps)

We've had the better of things against Bath this season, but we know that means nothing. We won't take anything for granted because Bath are playing some great rugby at the moment. Leicester did the double over us last year and then we beat them in the Heineken Cup so results in the past don't really count for a huge amount - provided you learn the lessons from what happened in those games. I believe it's going to be a battle from the advantage line and we've got to stop Bath getting momentum otherwise they'll play the way they've played all season - exceptionally well.

Steve Borthwick (Bath)

We've got ability with some very good backs - the likes of Matt Banahan, Olly Barkley, Joe Maddock - so we've got some good individuals. But we know Wasps are an outstanding side and each one of us needs to be at the best of our games this weekend to get the result.

Fraser Waters (Wasps)

Literally every game we've played since the guys came back from the World Cup has been massive so that puts you in good stead for these one-off games. One thing this club doesn't do is sentimentality and Lawrence will have to produce the goods as well as everyone else. It would obviously be great to send him on his way with another trophy but that's not something we'll be thinking about too much on the pitch.