This weekend's clash in the Guinness Premiership coincides with the final weekend of the autumn international period and represents a final league game before both clubs prepare for dates in the EDF Energy Cup and Heineken Cup in the next three weeks.
"It is all very close in the table and a win here or defeat there can make the difference between second and third place or fifth," said Tigers forwards coach Richard Cockerill.
"This week is important, not just because it is Wasps against Leicester, and third against fourth in the table, but because if we win it keeps us up in the top four going into the break for Europe. A victory would be a huge boost to the club considering the players we have missing and the games we have coming up next.
"We know Wasps are tough opponents, but we want as much out of the game as we can. I think we are performing pretty well, though perhaps we are not getting away from teams as well as we should. But we have not lost many games, possibly fewer than anyone in all competitions. We just need to keep working as hard as we can."
Both clubs are without a number of senior internationals, as Tigers have six players on England duty, while Marcos Ayerza is on the Argentina bench for their match against France, Martin Castrogiovanni away with Italy, and Alesana Tuilagi and Seru Rabeni are with the Pacific Islanders. James Hamilton has also been called into Scotland's preparations for Saturday's match against Australia.
