The England international came off the bench in last weekend's home win over London Irish and is given the No.9 shirt for the game at Adams Park.
James Buckland returns at hooker, and Luke Abraham takes a starting role in the back row after Brett Deacon was ruled out by a groin injury. Johne Murphy comes in on the wing in the other change to the starting line-up following last Saturday's defeat of the Irish.
Louis Deacon makes his 100th Premiership appearance for the club, playing alongside skipper Leo Cullen in the second row as Tigers look to add to two wins from three games during the autumn internationals when a dozen players have been away with their national squads.
Geordan Murphy, who has been released by Ireland after appearing in the first two of their internationals this month, is free to take a place on the Tigers bench alongside scrum-half Scott Bemand who has recovered from a knock picked up in the match at Saracens a fortnight ago.
With lock James Hamilton asked to rejoin the Scotland squad as they prepare for a Test against Australia at Murrayfield on Saturday, there is also a return on the bench for Henry Tuilagi. The big Samoan back rower has been out of action since early September with a hamstring injury but came through a run-out in the development team earlier this week and is now back in first-team contention.
Leicester Tigers (v Wasps away, Sunday, 3pm)
15 Sam Vesty
14 Johne Murphy
13 Dan Hipkiss
12 Daryl Gibson
11 Tom Varndell
10 Ian Humphreys
9 Harry Ellis
1 Alejandro Moreno
2 James Buckland
3 Michael Holford
4 Leo Cullen (captain)
5 Louis Deacon
6 Luke Abraham
7 Shane Jennings
8 Jordan Crane
Replacements
16 Gavin Hickie
17 David Young
18 Tom Croft
19 Henry Tuilagi
20 Scott Bemand
21 Matt Cornwell
22 Geordan Murphy
