Manchester, riding high in National League Two North, host struggling London Irish in the Pilkington Cup today, with captain Steve Swindells confident his side can cause an upset.
Full-back Swindells, the third highest points-scorer in English senior rugby union this season, said: "They're not playing very well at present - I think they've only won once or twice all season - and we've only lost once all year."
Bedford travel to local rivals Northampton, who have a doubt over England fly-half Paul Grayson (arm), hoping to carry their Premiership Two form into the cup.
Geoff Cooke's men have won all their 12 league matches so far this season and Saints' director of rugby Ian McGeechan, Cooke's right-hand man when the British Lions toured New Zealand in 1993, said: "They seem unstoppable, like we were when we won League Two a couple of years ago, but we found it immeasurably harder when it came to the cup against League One opposition. We hope to stress the difference between Premiership One and Two."
Bath coach Andy Robinson is set to ring the changes for the visit of London Scottish, with former England captain Phil de Glanville (rib), current US Eagles skipper Dan Lyle (elbow) and Mark Regan (shoulder) all set to miss out.
