Twickenham is sold out for Saturday's Big Game 5, a tribute both to the selling power of the English club game and the draw card the champions, Harlequins, have become.
A bonus-point win over struggling London Irish would ensure that Quins head the table going into the new year, but a simple success is likely to be enough because it would mean Saracens must score at least four tries the following day against Northampton in Milton Keynes, something they have not managed in the league since the opening day of the season.
Irish have lost their past five Premiership matches, a run that started at the end of October when a late try by Tom Casson gave Quins victory at the Madejski Stadium, and they are locked in a relegation scrap with Sale.
"The two teams may be at different ends of the table, but we know we are in for a very tough match," said the Harlequins full-back, Mike Brown. "You only have to look at their team-sheet to see how strong London Irish are and they play an exciting brand of rugby.
"We had a close game in Reading a few months ago and I expect it to be as hard this weekend. It will be a big occasion: a sell-out crowd at Twickenham and entertainment for the fans before the game. It should be a great day out and we have to make sure we deliver on the pitch."
Harlequins may have won the Premiership title in style against Leicester last May having topped the table in the regular season, but some questioned their achievement in a World Cup year that saw some of their rivals lose considerably more players for the opening two months of the campaign.
There is no doubting their credentials now and they are also on course for a home draw in the quarter-finals of the Heineken Cup. Quins have become an all-weather team, capable of playing flowing rugby one week and slogging it out the next. Last week's victory at Northampton followed September's success against Leicester at Welford Road.
"We look to play entertaining rugby but it is also about getting the job done," said the Harlequins director of rugby, Conor O'Shea, a former player and coach at London Irish. "Christmas is an important time in what is a congested Premiership and the fact we are playing my former team changes nothing for me.
"It is about getting the win and what we have at Harlequins is an incredible group of players in terms of attitude who will continue to get better. I am privileged to be a part of it and just want the players to do themselves justice. Games at this level are often decided on small margins, the bounce of a ball or a refereeing decision, and we always look to do enough to take out that element."
Quins, whose success has meant a greater interest being taken in them by the England management, lost one of their three Premiership matches played during the November international window, going down by three points in a kicking duel at Bath. Their strength in depth earned them success in the Premiership A league: they defeated Saracens in the final earlier this month after a free-scoring campaign that included thumping victories over London Irish, Wasps and Gloucester.
"The senior players know they have to keep up their performances," said O'Shea. "They know there is a young group who want their places and the competition is good for us." Quins will field the team that started at Northampton with their director of rugby noting: "As a player, you cannot take for granted the number of times you will play in front of a crowd of 80,000. It is what you play for and it is going to be a massive occasion."
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