| Venue: Mattioli Woods Welford Road Date:Friday, February 11, 2012 Kick-off:GMT 19.45 Coverage: Live scores and updates on BBC Sport. |
Chris Ashton, an ex-england winger, begins his stint with Leicester Tigers as a bench player. The Premiership leaders are looking for a double over Northampton.
Tigers make two adjustments to their starting XV, with Nemani Nadolo at the left wing and Tommy Reffell at the back.
Rory Hutchinson is the Scotland centre for Saints. He plays his 100th game with Saints. George Furbank serves as fly-half.
They also change the number 11 shirt for Tom Collins with South African Courtnall Skoan.
Leicester ran in seven attempts – two by Nadolo. won 55-26 at Franklin’s GardensOctober
The Tigers have bounced back from their initial two league losses. beating Worcester Warriors 36-16 last weekend.
Northampton was also defeated by Worcester in the most recent game. 29-15 away winOn 29 January,
Ashton’s move to Leicester on a short-term contractCould make his debut against the club where many of his 89 Premiership attempts were scored.
He has not had enough match practice since he played only four games for Worcester.
Saints have won four of their five most recent visits to Mattioli Woods Welford Road in all competitions. This includes a 23-18 victory last April when Hutchinson scored two of their three attempts.
Furbank’s Alex Mitchell, who was released in midweek from the England Six Nations squad, is now in the halves. Courtney Lawes is still under concussion protocol and is not allowed to play.
Skosan has scored 10 attempts in all competitions this year, including eight in Premiership. He also plays his first game since the European Champions Cup defeat to Ulster nearly a month ago.
Tigers head coach Steve Borthwick told BBC Radio Leicester:
“Northampton’s attacking game is outstanding. They operate at a lightning speed and move the ball with incredible speed. The team has been put together by top-class coaches, so we will have to improve.
“We have the best following in the competition. There are a lot more things we don’t have at Leicester Tigers but I think every club would like what we have with our supporters.
“I know how important this is to them in terms history but from our perspective, my players are excited about every game because they believe that every game is important.
Every game is one where we want to be better. This is where our focus is. How can we improve this week from last week? How do we give a performance that our supporters and we are proud of?
Phil Dowson, Saints forwards coach, spoke to BBC Radio Northampton
“The start is crucial, getting our fundamentals into game in terms of maul attack, maul defense, line speed and looking after the ball. If you don’t do these things correctly, you will be under immense pressure.
“You want your players to be physical, aggressive and energetic, but also to have great energy. However, you also want them to be precise.
“You have to be careful not to overdo it but you also don’t want it to be too complicated – in terms what the game means for the club, the fans and the players, as well as what it means for our league position.
It’s not an easy line to walk and you have to be careful. While I believe the importance of it is not lost on the players, we need to be careful to not make it seem like it is.
Leicester: Hegarty, Potter, Porter, Kelly, Nadolo; Burns, Wigglesworth; Whitcombe, Montoya, Cole, Wells, Green, Liebenberg (capt), Reffell, Wiese.
Replacements: Clare, van Wyk, Leatigaga, Snyman, Martin, van Poortvliet, Scott, Ashton.
Northampton: Tuala, Sleightholme (capt), Hutchinson; Furbank; Mitchell; Waller; Matavesi; Hill, Ribbans Ratuniyarawa; Wood, Harrison; Augustus
Replacements: Haywood, Iyogun, Carey, Coles, Wilkins, JHames, Grayson, Proctor.
Referee:Matthew Carley (RFU).