Is it finally Gloucester's year?

Sinbad for England: James Simpson-Daniel is ready to tame the Tigers

Gloucester star James Simpson-Daniel is determined to help his side cast off their nearly-men tag and finally savour Guinness Premiership glory.

Gloucester are a win away from reaching a third Premiership final in six seasons after Simpson-Daniel's scorching try secured an 8-6 victory over Bath.

While Bath now head to play-off opponents Wasps next Sunday, Gloucester have a chance to avenge last year's tortuous Twickenham experience against reigning champions Leicester at Kingsholm.

Simpson-Daniel and company were mauled 44-16 by the Tigers, four years after their previous final appearance produced a 39-3 drubbing at the hands of Wasps.

As on those two previous occasions, Gloucester will head into the play-offs as "winners" of the 22-game regular league season, yet Premiership silverware remains property shared by just four clubs in 10 seasons - Newcastle, Leicester, Wasps and Sale Sharks.

Simpson-Daniel said: "It's great to win the regular season, but you don't get anything for it.

"To prove you are the best side you have to go and win the play-offs. We've got to make sure we kick on.

"Home advantage is huge in the play-offs. When you are tired and dragging yourself off the floor, it gives you that little bit more.

"It will be another massive physical game against Leicester."

Wing Simpson-Daniel looks set to be named in England's 32-man New Zealand tour squad on Tuesday, with his current form crying out for a first Test start since November 2005 against the All Blacks on June 14.

England manager Martin Johnson looked on as Simpson-Daniel not only conjured the solitary touchdown of a white-hot west country derby, but also produced a stunning tackle that denied Bath prop Matt Stevens a certain try.

Gloucester head coach Dean Ryan added: "James is a world-class player and the 'Sinbad for England' campaign runs and runs.

"But if they pick him they have got to play him in the right way.

"He has played international rugby before, and I don't want him to go through another difficult experience.

"It's no good picking him and leaving him out on a limb. He gets lots of chances at Gloucester."

A punishing contest inevitably took its toll, with three more probable summer tourists - Stevens (knee), Bath hooker Lee Mears (shoulder) and Gloucester centre Mike Tindall (ankle) - failing to last the distance.

All three players will be assessed this week, but Stevens, especially, would be a huge loss for Bath if he failed to recover in time.

Gloucester and Bath had already secured their play-off places before the final round of league action - but Leicester could hardly have left it any later.

Wing Tom Varndell's injury-time try saw Leicester edge out Welford Road visitors Harlequins 31-28, and a winning bonus point edged them into fourth spot above Sale, who crashed 17-7 at home to London Irish.

Sale's consolation was qualification for next season's Heineken Cup, where they will be joined by fellow English representatives Gloucester, Wasps, Bath, Leicester and either Quins or Worcester.

Quins, who finished sixth, will claim the last available place, but only if Bath beat Worcester in the European Challenge Cup final on May 25.

Under-pressure Tigers head coach Marcelo Loffreda admitted: "My job would have been in question if we hadn't made Europe.

"It has been a very difficult week with all that has been going on with the rumours and press talk.

"[Leicester chief executive] Peter Wheeler's public support has been very important to me, and I told him how much I appreciate it."

Varndell collected two of Leicester's five tries - Johne Murphy, Jordan Crane and Ben Herring also touched down - yet Quins pushed them to the limit following touchdowns for Tom Williams (2), Will Skinner and Mike Brown.

Despite Varndell's heroics, Sale would still have claimed fourth had they managed a losing bonus point against Irish.

A crestfallen Sharks boss Philippe Saint-Andre said: "We didn't turn up. It was an opportunity to get to a play-off semi-final, but we don't deserve it after that.

"I don't know why we didn't perform. Sometimes we seem to think we are better than we actually are."

Wasps leapfrogged Bath into second after three Tom Voyce tries underpinned a 45-28 victory over relegated Leeds Carnegie.

And it kept alive skipper Lawrence Dallaglio's hopes of a Premiership title in his final campaign before retirement.

Wasps rugby director Ian McGeechan, who is expected to be unveiled as Lions coach on Wednesday for next year's South Africa tour, said: "We have the smallest squad in this league, and it has been a major effort to achieve what we have.

"We've had a very punishing schedule towards the end of this season, but I know we can go on further."

Dallaglio added: "We've got a monumental semi-final ahead of us now. Bath are a good side, playing good rugby at present.

"My ambition is to win the trophy - it's what we are all about. Wasps belong in the play-offs."

England World Cup winner Richard Hill reflected on a "very special 15 years" as he ended his illustrious career after Saracens' last-gasp 25-20 victory over Bristol in Milton Keynes.

Hill, who had to wait until the last minute before wing Kameli Ratuvou's try secured victory, said: "It has been a very special 15 years, but it isn't about me, it's about the team.

"There are many coaches throughout my career I would like to thank, and I've also got a big medical list to go through.

"I've had a lot of highs away from Saracens in terms of playing for England and the Lions, but then there has been the lows of injury in recent years.

"But there are no regrets. I've had setbacks, but they probably made me more determined to rise even higher."

Worcester, meanwhile, climbed above Newcastle into 10th place after crushing the Falcons 51-10, with wing prospect Miles Benjamin scoring two of Warriors' eight tries.