The best two scrum-halves in England face up to each other at Welford Road today.

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The battle between Leicester Tigers' Ben Youngs and Harlequins' Danny Care will take centre stage as Richard Cockerill's side look for a win that will secure home advantage in the Guinness Premiership semi-finals.

At 23 and with 19 caps behind him, Care is the elder statesman to his 20-year-old opponent.

The fiery Yorkshireman looked a shoe-in to start England's Tests in Australia this summer until Youngs' stunning form for Tigers earned him an England call-up during the Six Nations.

Care is still in the box-seat. But Leicester's latest offering for the England No.9 shirt is hot on his tail.

"I am looking forward to playing against Danny and it should be good fun," said Youngs.

"I don't think I have played against him before. I haven't thought about it too much in an England context, but I get on well with Danny and he is a top bloke so it will be good to play against him.

"He was terrific when I got into the England set-up and helped me get used to how things work. He has been really good to me.

"But today will be a huge challenge and I am sure he is looking forward to it too.

"Quins may be struggling to qualify for Europe but that can make them more dangerous because they have nothing to lose. I have played in games like that before.

"I remember turning Bath over in the Anglo-Welsh Cup without our strongest team. Any team can do anything when they have nothing to lose."

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Today's game against a Quins side who have stuttered all season after the 'Bloodgate' scandal is the latest chapter in Youngs' sensational season.

Having started just four games in three years for Leicester, today's game will be his 20th start of the campaign.

It is a run of games that have helped him improve quickly.

He said: "The more you play, the more you learn. If you don't play, you are left behind and have to play a lot of catch-up.

"I have been delighted to play some rugby, and if I had not done that I don't think I would be where I am up to now.

"The more I play, the more I learn and I am loving every minute of my rugby.

"There is a terrific atmosphere in the squad too. I don't think I have seen such a buzz around training and such a good mood among the players.

"The weather is nice too, and that has a positive effect on everybody. With the crowd at Welford Road behind us, we can't wait for the game to start."

A Quins win would be a huge surprise. Not only have Leicester won nine of their last 10 league matches, they have scored an average of 36 points a games in recent weeks.

Tigers are on a run of 19 consecutive league wins at home and Quins have not beaten them in the last 13 meetings. Tigers will be without No.8 Jordan Crane, who has not recovered from an injury he suffered at Newcastle.

His place goes to Craig Newby while prop Dan Cole takes over from Martin Castrogiovanni, who switches to the bench. The backline is unchanged Quins recall fit again flanker Chris Robshaw, while Matt Cairns and Aston Croall replace injured front row pair Chris Brooker and Ceri Jones.

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