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<\/a> <\/p>\nLeicester<\/a> Tigers are closing in on another eve-of-season boost, with England<\/a> scrum-half Jack van Poortvliet nearing a new deal.<\/p>\n Norfolk-born Van Poortvliet, 25, joined the Tigers academy at 12 and is in advanced talks with the club about putting pen to paper on a new long-term deal.<\/p>\n The Tigers, who missed out on a Gallagher PREM final appearance last season after losing a semi-final to arch-rivals Northampton<\/a> Saints, kick off the new campaign against Saracens<\/a> at Welford Road on Sunday afternoon.<\/p>\n Van Poortvliet, whose current deal expires in the summer, told RugbyPass last month about the pain of watching Saints celebrate winning the title and said he believes the Tigers have the squad to go all the way this season.<\/p>\n \u201cIf you see anyone lift the PREM, especially the team which beats you in the semi-final, it does leave a bitter taste in your mouth. But we want to win it for ourselves and not just to stop someone else.<\/p>\n \u201cWe have a real winning mentality in this squad and fell short last time. But now it\u2019s about delivering it, and when I look around the dressing room, I\u2019m confident we have the squad to win it.<\/p>\n \u201cYou always feel hurt at losing a semi-final. I\u2019ve lost two of them and a final in my career. But we also know how good it feels to win it, and we are going to chase that feeling,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n