Harlequins vs Bristol Bears

Kickoff: 3:05pm, Saturday 20th December

Venue: The Allianz Stadium

Watch on: TNT Sport

Key to the game: Can the Bears handle the Harlequins back row? Despite their lack of success this season, the Bears have perisisted with their expansive style of play. It's a formula that can dominate sides but also leaves them vulnerable more often than they would be if they played a more orthodox brand of rugby. One area of particular vulnerability in that style is the breakdown. Unfortunately for the Bears, their opponents this weekend have 2 World-class back-row players, Mikaele-Tu'u and Aoife Wafer, who will wreck havoc when given the opportunity. Tu'u signed late for Harlequins, and Wafer has only just returned from injury, so this is the first time that this exciting duo will take the field together in the starting XV. If the Bears can't contain them it will be another long day at the office for the West country women.

Team news

Harlequins

Starting XV

1.Jessie Spurrier 2.Carys Phillips 3.Lizzie Hanlon 4.Fi McIntosh 5.Jade Konkel

6.Nicole Wythe 7.Liana Mikaele-Tu'u 8.Aoife Wafer 9.Lucy Packer 10.Ella Cromack

11.Beth Wilcock 12.Sarah Perry 13.Claudia Pena 14.Lauren Torley 15.Ellie Kildunne

Bench

16.Connie Powell 17.Laura Delgado 18.Ruby Winstanley 19.Abbie Fleming

20.Sara Svoboda 21.Lucy Burgess 22.Kayleigh Powell 23.Freya Aucken

Bristol Bears

Starting XV

1.Simi Pam 2.Amy Dale 3.Sarah Bern 4.Hollie Cunningham 5.Abbie Ward(C) 

6.Christiana Balogun 7.Pamphinette Buisa 8.Gwennan Hopkins 9.Keira Bevan 10.Ruahei Demant

11.Millie David 12.Savannah Picton-Powell 13.Meg Varley 14.Reneeqa Bonner 15.Jenny Hesketh

Bench

16.Jess Sprague 17.Hannah Botterman 18.Elliann Clarke 19.Jenny Herring

20.Demelza Short 21.Tilly Royal 22.Lucie Skuse 23.Jasmine Joyce

Sale Sharks vs Saracens

Kickoff: 1pm, Sunday 21st December

Venue: Morson Stadium

Key to the game: The half-back battle. England's 2 fly-halves will go head-to-head alongside their respective North American scrum-halves in a battle that is a must-watch. Ortiz, from the USA, partners Holly Aitchison for Sale Sharks while Olivia Apps of Canada will line up next to Zoe Harrison. This will be a clash of styles and a battle for control of the tempo of this game. Apps and Harrison are playing the fast-paced brand of attacking rugby that got Apps and Canada into a World Cup final just a few months ago. The addition of Canada's head coach, Kevin Rouet, to the coaching set-up has transformed the attack and has made Saracens into an even more formidable opposition. Ortiz and Aitchison are attacking players as well but will look to keep more control in the game with the boot. That battle will likely determine the victors in this one.

Team news

Sale Sharks

Starting XV
1.Tysh Harper 2.Amelia Hyndman 3.Nick James 4.Morwenna Talling 5.Erica Jarrell-Searcy 

6.Georgie Perris-Redding(C) 7.Katie Childs 8.Sharifa Kasolo 9.Olivia Ortiz 10.Holly Aitchison

11.Shona Campbell 12.Katana Howard 13.Evie Wills 14.Rhona Lloyd 15.Lizzie Duffy

Bench

16.Leah Bartlett 17.Gwen Pyrs 18.Sophie Benavent 19.Evie Donaldson

20.Trudy Cowan 21.Amy Relf 22.Laura Perrin 23.Courtney Keight

Saracens

Starting XV
1.Liz Crake 2.Bryony Field 3.Donna Rose 4.Rosie Galligan 5.Louise McMillan

6.Georgia Evans 7.Julia Omokhuale 8.Marlie Packer 9.Olivia Apps 10.Zoe Harrison

11.Lotte Sharp 12.Sophie Bridger 13.Sydney Gregson 14.Alysha Corrigan 15.Jemma Jo-Linkins

Bench

16.May Campbell 17.Kelsey Clifford 18.Carmen Tremelling 19.Gabrielle Senft 

20.Poppy Cleall 21.Tori Sellors 22.Emma Hardy 23.Jess Breach

Loughborough Lightning vs Trailfinders

Kickoff: 2pm, Sunday 21st December

Venue: Cinch Stadium at Franklin's Gardens

Key to the game: Can Loughborough cope with the Trailfinders power? The Trailfinders pack is full of international stars from an array of nations and is capable of going up against any unit in the league. Lightning have a good pack as well with the likes of Lilli Ives Campion and Sadia Kabeya. If Trailfinders can get on top up front, they can stop Loughborough from even attempting to employ their usual, high-octane style of attacking rugby.

Team news

Loughborough Lightning

Starting XV

1.Isla Curphey 2.Kathryn Treder 3.Mae Sagapolu 4.Lilli Ives Campion 5.Rachel Ehrecke

6.Daisy Hibbert-Jones 7.Sadia Kabeya 8.Hanaela Lutui 9.Alicia Maude 10.Helen Nelson

11.Bo Westcombe-Evans 12.Carmela Morrall 13.Alev Kelter 14.Bulou Mataitoga 15.Lucia Scott

Bench

16.Kendall Waudby 17.Amelia Williams 18.Christine Belisle 19.Keevy Fitzpatrick 

20.Tahlia Brody 21.Meg Davey 22.Lia Green 23.Fancy Bermudez

Trailfinders

Starting XV

1.Alivia Leatherman 2.Georgia Ponsonby 3.Maya Montiel 4.Maia Roos 5.Alana Borland

6.Rachel Malcolm 7.kate Zackary(C) 8.Abi Burton 9.Ella Amory 10.Claire Gallagher 

11.Vicky Laflin 12.Carys Cox 13.Meg Jones 14.Grace White 15.Rosie Inman

Bench

16.Cristina Blanco 17.Annabel Meta 18.Cana Williams 19.Shya Pinnock

20.Cara Brincot 21.Grace Moore 22.Isla Norman-Bell 23.Niamh Gallagher

Leicester Tigers vs Gloucester-Hartpury

Kickoff: 3pm, Sunday 21st December

Venue: Mattioli Woods Welford Road

Key to the game: Can Leicester keep putting points on the board? Leicester are still without a win this season - they haven't even come particularly close. However, they have recently started putting more points on the board and becoming more competitive in these games. Up against a heavily rotated Gloucester-Hartpury outfit, they will be hoping to catch them off guard.

Team news

Leicester Tigers

Starting XV
1.Ellie Smith 2.Micke Gunter 3.Clodagh Dunne 4.Deni Roos 5.Emerson Allen

6.Jordan Russell 7.Hermione Farmer 8.Tiana Gordon 9.Eneka Labeyrie 10.Kristin Bitter

11.Karolina Kacirkova 12.Georgie Lingham 13.Emily Henrich 14.Zoe Evans 15.Tess Feury

Bench

16.Alicia Watkins 17.Danielle Allen-Solly 18.Nadine Vincent 19.Leah Heath

20.Morgan Richardson 21.Jenny Maxwell 22.Abileigh Priestnall 23.Eve Slater

Gloucester-Hartpury

Starting XV

1.Niamh O.Dowd 2.Lucy Simpson 3.Sisilia Tuipulotu 4.Alaw Pyrs 5.Steph Else

6.Kate Williams(C) 7.Sophie McQueen 8.Tabitha Copson 9.Sian Jones 10.Lizzie Goulden

11.Pip Hendy 12.Molly Bunker 13.Jade Shekells 14.Mia Venner 15.Emma Sing

Bench

16.Neve Jones 17.Ranni Samuda 18.Eloise Harris 19.Bethan Lewis

20.Bethan Lewis 21.Ellie Wilson 22.Bianca Blackburn 23.Rachel Lund