Rabeni has missed Tigers’ last five fixtures through a combination of suspension and injury, while Hipkiss was absent for Saturday’s defeat at Worcester. Argentine prop Marcos Ayerza also returns to the starting line up after missing the match at Sixways.
Having both made their comebacks from long-term injury as replacements against Leeds Carnegie at the beginning of the month, internationals Harry Ellis and Alesana Tuilagi make their second successive starts.
Martin Corry captains the side from the second row with Ben Pienaar again named on the openside flank following his Premiership debut last weekend.
“We know that Saturday’s match will be very tough for us,” said Tigers head coach Marcelo Loffreda. “Saracens have a very good side and they will be keen to win at Welford Road. We lost to them away earlier in the season so we know that we have to perform well if we want a victory.
“We were very disappointed to lose last weekend, especially after scoring a try so quickly after the first whistle. We have worked very hard in the week and we hope to put things right on Saturday. I have a lot of belief in the squad and we are all looking forward to Saturday’s challenge.”
Tickets are still available for Saturday's match. Call 08701 28 34 30, visit the tickets section of this website or pop down to the Welford Road ticket office.
Tigers (vs Saracens, Welford Road, Saturday, March 15, kick-off 3pm)
15 Johne Murphy
14 Tom Varndell
13 Dan Hipkiss
12 Seru Rabeni
11 Alesana Tuilagi
10 Andy Goode
9 Harry Ellis
1 Marcos Ayerza
2 Mefin Davies
3 Julian White
4 Louis Deacon
5 Martin Corry (c)
6 Brett Deacon
7 Ben Pienaar
8 Jordan Crane
Replacements
16 Benjamin Kayser
17 Alex Moreno
18 Boris Stankovich
19 Gregor Gillanders
20 Christophe Lausuccq
21 Ian Humphreys
22 Ollie Smith
