Now or never for Leeds Carnegie - Hendre Fourie

South Africa-born Fourie made his Saxons debut against Italy A

Flanker Hendre Fourie says it is now or never for Leeds Carnegie in the fight for their Premiership survival.

Leeds host champions Leicester Tigers on Sunday looking for only their third win of the season as they try to get off the foot of the table.

"We have to do it this weekend because we are running out of time," Fourie told BBC Radio Leeds.

"It we don't it will be a little bit of a struggle and we need to get as many points as possible."

Leeds are bottom of the Premiership and have yet to win a league game at home this season.

"We need to get off the bottom of the table as soon as possible before the final few weeks," Fourie explained.

"In those final few weeks we need to by above the relegation zone because it's easier to stay there than being bottom and trying to move up and out."

South Africa-born Fourie will start his first game for Leeds for over a month after a knee injury on Sunday, but is raring to go after a successful England Saxons' debut against Italy A.

"I loved playing for England and it was a very proud moment for me.

"I felt a bit rusty after being out for a bit and I think I could have played better, but that's the way it goes.

"I feel fine after the game just the normal bumps and bruises but I've done a full contact session here at Leeds and came through that fine and I'm ready for Sunday.

"It's frustrating that I keep getting these niggling injury because I feel I play my best when I've got a good run of games under my belt.

"Take the injuries out of it and I feel that this is my best season. I don't think I've ever been playing better. Two years ago in the Premiership I was a bit heavier. But now I'm the fittest I've ever been and it's showing.

That is the big difference between them and other squads - it's not the size of their squad, it's the quality

Leeds flanker Hendre Fourie on Leicester

"I'm also being pushed hard by the likes of Calum Clark and Jacob Rowan for my place so that's helped me too. Competition is good and brings the best out of me and keeps me sharp.

"Maybe if is wasn't for them pushing me I might have only had an average season."

With their internationals on Six Nations duty, Leicester Tigers will field a slightly changed side for Sunday's Valentines Day clash at Headingley but Fourie does not expect them to be any weaker.

"With the Saxons I played with Geoff Parling [Tigers lock] and I chatted to him about their big squad," he said.

"But he said they didn't have a bigger squad than any other club - it is just the players they can bring in are of the same quality as the ones they've lost.

"So that is the big difference between them and other squads - it's not the size of their squad, it's the quality, so it will be a vey tough match for us."

BBC Radio Leeds 774 AM & online has exclusive commentary of Sunday's game from 1400 GMT.