Scrum-half Julien Dupuy and back-row duo Craig Newby and Jordan Crane, who all played a part from the bench in last Saturday’s win over Bath Rugby, return to the starting XV, while Tom Croft moves into the second row and Johne Murphy comes in on the wing.
Croft’s switch is forced by the knee injury picked up by Louis Deacon in the Heineken Cup clash as well as the absence of Martin Corry, Marco Wentzel and Richard Blaze.
Murphy is called up as Alesana Tuilagi serves a club suspension after being citing from the match against Bath. Dupuy’s inclusion is the only other change in the backline as Dan Hipkiss and Ayoola Erinle continue at centre and Geordan Murphy retains the captaincy.
Benjamin Kayser, who has not played since returning from Six Nations duty with a neck injury, is named among the replacements.
As well as the absences in the second row, Tigers are without Brett Deacon (foot), Ben Herring (head), Toby Flood (leg), Derick Hougaard (back), Aaron Mauger (back), Lewis Moody (ankle) and Matt Smith (ankle) due to injury.
Acting head coach Richard Cockerill said: “Saracens have had some excellent results at home and they are still in the hunt for European places. We know the size of the challenge but we want the points for our own play-off ambitions.
“Our options have been limited in certain positions in recent weeks but we are getting a few of our injured players back now, with Craig Newby, Jordan Crane and Seru Rabeni involved last Saturday and Benjamin Kayser back in the squad this weekend.”
Leicester Tigers (v Saracens, Sunday April 19, 3pm Vicarage Road):
15 Geordan Murphy (captain)
14 Scott Hamilton
13 Ayoola Erinle
12 Dan Hipkiss
11 Johne Murphy
10 Sam Vesty
9 Julien Dupuy
1 Marcos Ayerza
2 George Chuter
3 Martin Castrogiovanni
4 Tom Croft
5 Ben Kay
6 Craig Newby
7 Ben Woods
8 Jordan Crane
Replacements
16 Benjamin Kayser
17 Dan Cole
18 Dan Hemingway
19 Ben Pienaar
20 Harry Ellis
21 Seru Rabeni
22 Tom Varndell
