Guinness Premiership champions Leicester are likely to announce the signing of powerful Australian Test wing Lote Tuqiri later this week.

The former Brisbane Broncos rugby league star switched codes in 2002, winning 67 caps for Australia and scoring 31 tries.

Tuqiri, 30, claimed Australia's solitary touchdown during the 2003 World Cup final defeat against England in Sydney.

But his contract was terminated by the Australian Rugby Union earlier this year for an alleged breach.

And despite reported interest from London Irish and Jonny Wilkinson's Toulon, Tuqiri is seemingly heading to Welford Road.

Leicester head coach Richard Cockerill straight-batted questions about Tuqiri's possible arrival following the Tigers' 29-15 Premiership victory over Northampton.

"I have no comment to make. As far as I am aware it is a non-story for me," said Cockerill.

"We have been linked with him along with London Irish, Toulon and everybody else.

"If there are stories saying he has signed then I am delighted, but I haven't seen him yet."

Leicester moved one point above Northampton in the table after fly-half Jeremy Staunton kicked 19 points, while wing Lucas Amorosino and centre Anthony Allen scored tries.

Saints rugby director Jim Mallinder was left to rue missed opportunities and the absence of some key England players, including captain and hooker Dylan Hartley.

"It was always going to be tricky with players unavailable either because of injuries, England commitments or discipline matters," he said.

Northampton also missed full-back Ben Foden, who was named in their original side for the game and then withdrawn after England manager Martin Johnson decided to retain him ahead of next week's autumn Test opener against Australia.

"He didn't train with us all week, but he had not been committed to not playing for us," added Mallinder.

"It wasn't until Friday afternoon that they made the decision not to release him.

"We were led to believe there was a chance that he would be released. That is Martin Johnson's choice to hold him back until whatever time.

"With not knowing on Friday morning and having to select a team before midday, we put him in the team. We were told at 12.15pm that he was not going to be released."

Unbeaten leaders Saracens beat lowly Bath, recording their seventh successive Premiership win in the process to make it the best start to a league season by any English club since Newcastle posted a dozen victories 12 years ago.

Bath, with just one win from nine starts in all competitions this term, finished strongly through a late Michael Claassens touchdown after Saracens substitute Rhys Gill was sin-binned.

But the visitors prevailed through first-half tries for flanker Andy Saull and impressive England Saxons wing Noah Cato, plus a Glen Jackson conversion.

"That game could have gone either way, but whatever the result, it wouldn't have changed how courageous our approach was," said Saracens rugby director Brendan Venter.

"Everything that could have gone wrong did go wrong in the second half, but the guys kept going. It was courage and determination - they fought it out."

Venter, though, refuses to discuss a possible Premiership title, adding: "The moment you look ahead, you cannot see the stumbling blocks and you fall flat on your face."

Bath head coach Steve Meehan recently signed a new two-year contract at the Recreation Ground, yet his team continue to struggle on domestic and European stages.

They have not claimed a home victory since seeing off Saracens more than six months ago, although Meehan took heart from a vastly-improved display following last week's tame surrender against Newcastle.

"It was very pleasing to get an effort like that," he said.

"We worked really hard, and while we are disappointed with the result, we are a lot happier with the effort and attitude."We are disappointed with where we are in the table, but we came across a team undefeated in the Premiership, and that game could have gone either way.

"The talent is there, and if we can repeat that effort on a weekly basis, then it will turn into wins."

Harlequins and London Irish fought out the fifth drawn Premiership game this season, sharing matters 9-9 at the Twickenham Stoop.

Fly-half Rory Clegg, called up as replacement for an injured Nick Evans, kicked a late penalty to deny Irish a sixth successive win.

Quins boss John Kingston said: "He (Clegg) is a very calm character. We believe in him hugely, otherwise we wouldn't have invested the time we have in him.

"We see him as the long-term future of the club, and what better way to become a great number 10 than to work alongside someone like Nick Evans."

Irish lost ground on Saracens after being held in a match when neither side remotely hit top gear.

"We are disappointed because we were imprecise in a lot of areas," said Irish head coach Toby Booth.

"We didn't adapt quickly enough, and it became a bit of a tug-of-war."