He will partner fellow England international Harry Ellis at half-back, while England Under-20 lock Calum Green returns to the Tigers pack.
Tigers top the northern conference of the Premier Rugby A League by a single point, but have a game in hand on second-placed Northampton.
After this evening’s match, Tigers host Worcester at Welford Road on April 12 and then go to Sale Jets on April 19. The final is contested between the winners of the two conference tables, over two legs in April/May.
Tonight’s game is staged at West Park Leeds, kick-off is at 7pm.
Leicester Tigers Development XV
15 Gerard Mullen
14 Luix Roussarie
13 Rory Lynn
12 Andrew Forsyth
11 Connor Smith
10 Sam Vesty
9 Harry Ellis
1 Robbie Harris
2 Joe Duffey
3 Ryan Bower
4 Calum Green
5 Sam Raven
6 Dan Hemingway
7 Matt Everard
8 Ben Pienaar (c)
Replacements
16 Jimmy Stevens
17 Luke Beales
18 Jonny Harris
19 Rob Conquest
20 Jethro Rawling
21 Sam Harrison
22 Finlay Barnham
23 Harry Hudson
Leeds Carnegie Development: 15 Jon Goodridge, 14 Jonny Hepworth, 13 Luther Burrell, 12 Henry Paul, 11 Scott Armstrong, 10 Jason Strange, 9 Andy Gomarsall; 1 Cameron Zeiss, 2 Phil Nilsen, 3 Peter Bucknall, 4 James Craig, 5 Phil Murphy, 6 Jon Pendlebury, 7 Joe Barker, 8 Ollie Steadman
Replacements: 16 Vili Maasi, 17 Gareth Hardy, 18 Alex Moreno, 19 Alex Ball, 20 Alex Reider, 21 Joe Bedford, 22 Ollie Denton, 23 Richard Welding
