Richard Cockerill says the Kings of the North tournament and the clash with Argentina will provide important preparation for the start of the Aviva Premiership campaign.Leicester Tigers kick-off the league season away to London Irish on Sunday, October 18 before welcoming Harlequins to Welford Road on Sunday, October 25 (2pm).   But before that Tigers face the Pumas in the Marcos Ayerza International Challenge at Welford Road on Saturday, September 5, organised as part of his testimonial year. Tickets are available here. Tigers then kick-off their Kings of the North campaign against Sale Sharks at the AJ Bell Stadium on Saturday, September 12 before welcoming Newcastle Falcons to Welford Road on Saturday, September 19 (3pm). Tigers head to their Kingston Park home on Friday, September 25 for an 8pm kick-off and complete their schedule at home to Sale Sharks on Saturday, October 10 (kick-off 3pm.   And director of rugby Cockerill said the fixtures will provide vital opportunities for the whole squad.   “There are a lot of younger players to get the opportunity in some of those games,” he said. “We play at London Irish on October 18 – that’s where we’re heading and the Kings of the North and the Argentina game are important preparation.   “It’s a long pre-season and we need to manage that properly, which we are, but it’s about London Irish, and those games will be important preparation.”   Admission to all Welford Road fixtures in the Kings of the North tournament is included in Leicester Tigers season tickets for 2015/16. Match tickets are also on general sale now, to personal callers at the ticket office in the new club store in the MET-Rx Stand, via the hotline on 0116 319 8888 (option 2) and online. A dedicated website at http://www.kingsofthenorth.net/ includes match details, ticket advice and news updates. Or see the official websites of the three participating clubs. Kings of the North fixtures: Saturday, September 5 (3.00pm): Newcastle Falcons v Sale Sharks Saturday, September 12 (2.30pm): Sale Sharks v Leicester Tigers Saturday, September 19 (3.00pm): Leicester Tigers v Newcastle Falcons Friday, September 25 (8.00pm): Newcastle Falcons v Leicester Tigers Friday, October 2 (7.45pm): Sale Sharks v Newcastle Falcons Saturday, October 10 (3.00pm): Leicester Tigers v Sale Sharks