Head coach Pat Howard has recalled five of his senior internationals into the starting line-up for Leicester Tigers' EDF Energy Cup tie away to Worcester on Saturday (3pm). Geordan Murphy, Daryl Gibson, Louis Deacon, Ben Kay and Julian White all return to the starting XV, while England duo Martin Corry and Andy Goode have been named on the bench.

Howard waited for his England players to report back after three days with the Elite Playing Squad this week before finalising his team, while he also had some injury concerns following last weekend's win over Newport Gwent Dragons.

Prop Martin Castrogiovanni is away with Italy for a World Cup qualifier against Portugal, but fellow front row Marcos Ayerza is available after spending the early part of this week with the Argentina squad at a training camp in Switzerland.

Deacon is in the back row, Kay takes the place of Jim Hamilton who broke a finger in a man-of-the-match display against the Dragons and White is back at tighthead. A groin injury to Dan Hipkiss allows Gibson to come into the midfield and Geordan Murphy is on one wing, with namesake Johne on the other, allowing Sam Vesty to return at full-back.

With Ian Humphreys starting a short loan spell at Leeds Tykes, Goode is on the bench alongside club captain Corry, while Gavin Hickie makes it into the 22 for the first time since his summer switch from Worcester.

"I'm sure it will be a tough game," said Howard. "The Worcester set-piece is very good and they defend well. They also had a good win over Northampton in this competition last week and they will obviously take a lot of confidence from that so it will be a big test."

A bonus-point victory over the Dragons got Tigers off to a good start in the competition, and Howard said: "I was pleased with the ambition of the players. A lot of the stuff was off the cuff and the first try of the game was fantastic, attacking from depth, having a go and asking some questions. Another bonus-point victory would make it very hard for us not to finish top of the group."

Tigers (v Worcester away, EDF Energy Cup, Saturday 3pm)

15 Sam Vesty
14 Geordan Murphy
13 Ollie Smith
12 Daryl Gibson
11 Johne* Murphy
10 Paul Burke
9 Scott Bemand

1 Marcos Ayerza
2 James Buckland
3 Julian White
4 Leo Cullen (capt)
5 Ben Kay
6 Louis Deacon
7 Lewis Moody
8 Jordan Crane

Replacements

16 Gavin Hickie
17 Michael Holford
18 Martin Corry
19 Shane Jennings
20 Frank Murphy
21 Andy Goode
22 Leon Lloyd

*pronounced Johnny