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Come on down to first home friendly

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Leicester Tigers have their first pre-season run-out on home soil on Saturday when neighbours Nottingham are the visitors to Welford Road (3pm kick-off).

With tickets priced just £5 for adults and £1 for children under-15, there is no better way to see how the preparations are going for the start of the season.

Tickets are on sale now from the Tigers ticket office. The office will also be open from 9am on Saturday. Cash turnstiles will be available at the Aylestone Road end of the Crumbie Stand and Next Stand. Supporters are advised to pre-book if possible as there is expected to be a large walk-up crowd. Please note that tickets for this fixture are not included in season tickets.

The Captain's and ABC Bars will be open to supporters on matchday.

Nottingham are using the fixture as part of their preparations for their National League One campaign, while Tigers will be looking to build on the performances of the last two weeks when they have registered away wins over Cornish Pirates and Bedford.

Coach Richard Cockerill will also take the opportunity to have a look at the new combinations in his side and the summer signings, including Benjamin Kayser, Owen Finegan, Richard Blaze, Boris Stankovich and Marco Wentzel. The squad features the senior players not named in the Middlesex Sevens squad and will be led by skipper Louis Deacon.

"Everyone's looking forward to the game on Saturday because it's another chance to see how we're progressing," Cockerill said. "The lads are all working hard on the training field and I know they're keen to get and out and play some rugby.

"We've already had two good work-outs at Cornish Pirates and Bedford, and we're now looking to improve on those. We want to win but it's equally important that we continue to put in an improved display. This is another opportunity for us to work on some combinations and to get the lads gelling as a team.

"The fact that this is the first game at Welford Road adds to the anticipation."

Nottingham hosted the fixture last year at the Meadow Lane, the home they share with Notts County Football Club, and won 26-13. Many of that squad are still involved, including Alex Dodge who could come up against his brother Ollie who has played in both warm-up games for Tigers so far this month.

Director of rugby Glenn Delaney has also been adding to Nottingham's strength in depth this year, with back-rower Luke Sherriff among the arrivals after spending a spell on loan from Harlequins last season.

Delaney said: "All of the players here will be looking forward to the opportunity to play at one of the biggest club rugby grounds in Europe."