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By Matt Majendie BBC Sport Online

Two games into the season and Leicester are in unfamiliar territory.

Their start to the Premiership campaign has been more dismal and surprising than Manchester United's slump, with both teams languishing in ninth in their respective leagues.

But one constant has remained the same - the boot of Tim Stimpson.

Premiership's current leading points scorers

1,007 - Tim Stimpson (Leicester)

963 - Paul Grayson (Northampton)

933 - Jonny Wilkinson (Newcastle)

824 - Kenny Logan (Wasps)

571 - Paul Burke (Harlequins)

Time and time again the former England full-back has kept the Tigers in the hunt with his precise kicking in recent seasons.

And, as they slumped to their second defeat of the season, to Sale on Friday night, Stimpson was the only player with anything to celebrate.

During the 29-16 loss, the 29-year-old became the first player to register 1,000 points in the Premiership.

Match report: Sale 19-26 Leicester

Realistically the only players capable of surpassing his career tally during the 2002/3 season are Northampton's Paul Grayson, 44 points back on 963, and England's Jonny Wilkinson on 933.

But, with the Tigers floundering and Wilkinson expected to miss much of the season on England duty, a host of other players could emerge as the top points scorer over the current campaign.

BBC Sport Online picks the leading contenders to cause a stir in the points race.

Tim Stimpson (Leicester): Even on the few occasions when the Tigers have slipped up, Stimpson has remained a reliable force.

The former England number 15 has been consistent with his boot, is trusted in defence and, with England unlikely to come calling, should play the vast majority of his side's Premiership games.

With England boss Clive Woodward's insistence on attacking flair at full-back, Stimpson continues to miss out behind Jason Robinson in the pecking order.

Jonny Wilkinson
Wilkinson is closing in on Stimpson's record
Jonny Wilkinson (Newcastle): England's first choice fly-half has already become one of the most successful points scorers in Test rugby history at the age of 23.

His notoriously hard graft in training has made him one of the most consistent goal kickers in the world.

But his tackling abilities and his increasing attacking skills ensure he is not just a conveyor belt for spot kicks.

Braam van Straaten (Leeds): The ex-Springbok fly-half is very much in the mould of Wilkinson.

He is always reliable with the boot, is equally crunching in the tackle and has a great rugby brain.

He racked up a total of 157 points for Leeds last season and already has 51 under his belt just three games into the season.

Andy Goode (Saracens): The 22-year-old's chances as first-choice spot kicker were severely limited at Leicester and a close season move to Sarries look to have changed that position.

So far he has been called up to kick ahead of French full-back Thomas Castaignede.

He started his season off in style with a 20-point haul, including a try, in the win over Bristol.

Charlie Hodgson
Hodgson is no stranger to high points tallies
Charlie Hodgson (Sale): In the unlikely event that Jonny Wilkinson should slip up for England, Hodgson is breathing down his neck.

No stranger to high points tallies, he recorded 44 points on his England debut.

Already he has notched up 43 points and, unlike more traditional goal kickers like Paul Grayson, many of his past points have come from tries.

Paul Grayson (Northampton): Like Stimpson, Grayson is very much in the mould of the more traditional fly-half.

While showing glimpses of attacking flair, only one in 50 of his points have come from crossing the try line.


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