The 27-year-old will follow his dad Ian in making 100 starts for the club, becoming the first father-and-son combination to achieve this feat in the club’s 133-year history.
Ian Smith went on to 331 appearances for the club as a back-rower between 1977 and 1991, including five Cup Finals, while Matt made his debut in March 2006.
Anthony Allen, Niall Morris and Adam Thompstone return to the Tigers backline, with Sam Harrison and George Ford linking up at half-back.
Tom Croft and Julian Salvi are named in the forward pack, with Marcos Ayerza and Logovi’i Mulipola joined by Rob Hawkins in the front row.
Tickets for Saturday’s match are available now from the Tigers ticket office. Phone 0844 856 1880, call in at Welford Road (open until 5pm Friday and from 9am on Saturday), or book online any time and collect on your way to the game.
Leicester Tigers (v London Welsh, Welford Road, Saturday 3pm)
15 Mathew Tait
14 Niall Morris
13 Matt Smith
12 Anthony Allen
11 Adam Thompstone
10 George Ford
9 Sam Harrison
1 Marcos Ayerza
2 Rob Hawkins
3 Logovi’i Mulipola
4 Louis Deacon (c)
5 Graham Kitchener
6 Tom Croft
7 Julian Salvi
8 Jordan Crane
Replacements
16 George Chuter
17 Boris Stankovich
18 Fraser Balmain
19 Ed Slater
20 Brett Deacon
21 Micky Young
22 Dan Bowden
23 Geordan Murphy
London Welsh: 15 Tom Arscott, 14 Phil MacKenzie, 13 Gonzalo Tiesi, 12 Sonny Parker, 11. Nick Scott, 10 Gordon Ross, 9 Tyson Keats; 1 Franck Montanella, 2 Neil Briggs, 3 Greg Bateman, 4 Jonathan Mills (c), 5 Matt Corker, 6 Adam Balding, 7 Michael Hills, 8 Ed Jackson.
Replacements: 16 Dan George, 17 Tom Bristow, 18 James Tideswell, 19 Martin Purdy, 20 Ed Williamson, 21 Seb Jewell, 22 Gavin Henson, 23 Rob Lewis
