Leicester Tigers will head to Newcastle Falcons on Sunday with the same 23-man squad involved in their last league outing, a 43-20 win over Bath Rugby at Welford Road two weeks ago.
Head coach Richard Cockerill has named an unchanged starting XV, led by Geordan Murphy, and also retained the same eight replacements.
“Newcastle is always a tough place to go, they always seem to find their form against Leicester Tigers,” said Cockerill.
“They are a few points above the relegation issues but probably feel they need one more win to make sure. But it is an important game for us too, we want to finish top of the league and we want to keep our momentum and our form going for as long as we can.”
The trip to Newcastle represents Tigers’ final away fixture of the league programme, with two home games to come, against Harlequins on Saturday April 24 (3pm) and Saracens on Saturday May 8 (3pm). Tickets for both fixtures are available now.
Leicester Tigers (v Newcastle Falcons, Kingston Park, Sunday 3pm)
15 Geordan Murphy (c)
14 Scott Hamilton
13 Matt Smith
12 Anthony Allen
11 Alesana Tuilagi
10 Toby Flood
9 Ben Youngs
1 Marcos Ayerza
2 Mefin Davies
3 Martin Castrogiovanni
4 Louis Deacon
5 Geoff Parling
6 Tom Croft
7 Lewis Moody
8 Jordan Crane
Replacements
16 George Chuter
17 Boris Stankovich
18 Dan Cole
19 Ben Kay
20 Craig Newby
21 James Grindal
22 Jeremy Staunton
23 Johne Murphy
Newcastle Falcons will finalise their team after fitness checks on props Carl Hayman and Jon Golding.
Hayman missed last weekend's visit of Cardiff Blues with a back injury, but has been given until the day to prove his fitness along with loosehead Golding, who picked up an ankle injury in that game.
Both have been named in the line-up pending late fitness tests, with the only other changes being at lock forward where the fit-again Tim Swinson replaces Filipo Levi, and on the wing where Danny Williams returns in place of Tom Biggs.
Director of rugby Steve Bates said: "Carl has been making reasonable progress, but the medical team will have a look at him on Sunday and make a call from there to determine whether or not he is fit enough to start."
Bates added: "We know they will test us in pretty much every area, but I felt we gave a decent account of ourselves when we went to Welford Road and could probably count ourselves unlucky not to have taken a bonus point from that game.”
Tickets for Sunday are still available by calling 0871 226 60 60, or from Kingston Park in person and on the day.
Newcastle Falcons:
15 Alex Tait
14 Danny Williams
13 Gcobani Bobo
12 Tane Tu'ipulotu
11 Charlie Amesbury
10 Jimmy Gopperth
9 Micky Young
1 Jon Golding
2 Rob Vickers
3 Carl Hayman (c)
4 James Hudson
5 Tim Swinson
6 Brent Wilson
7 Ed Williamson
8 Josh Afu
Replacements:
16 Matt Thompson
17 Micky Ward
18 Kieran Brookes
19 Filipo Levi
20 Mark Sorenson
21 Hall Charlton
22 Tom Catterick
23 Tom Biggs
Head coach Richard Cockerill has named an unchanged starting XV, led by Geordan Murphy, and also retained the same eight replacements.
“Newcastle is always a tough place to go, they always seem to find their form against Leicester Tigers,” said Cockerill.
“They are a few points above the relegation issues but probably feel they need one more win to make sure. But it is an important game for us too, we want to finish top of the league and we want to keep our momentum and our form going for as long as we can.”
The trip to Newcastle represents Tigers’ final away fixture of the league programme, with two home games to come, against Harlequins on Saturday April 24 (3pm) and Saracens on Saturday May 8 (3pm). Tickets for both fixtures are available now.
Leicester Tigers (v Newcastle Falcons, Kingston Park, Sunday 3pm)
15 Geordan Murphy (c)
14 Scott Hamilton
13 Matt Smith
12 Anthony Allen
11 Alesana Tuilagi
10 Toby Flood
9 Ben Youngs
1 Marcos Ayerza
2 Mefin Davies
3 Martin Castrogiovanni
4 Louis Deacon
5 Geoff Parling
6 Tom Croft
7 Lewis Moody
8 Jordan Crane
Replacements
16 George Chuter
17 Boris Stankovich
18 Dan Cole
19 Ben Kay
20 Craig Newby
21 James Grindal
22 Jeremy Staunton
23 Johne Murphy
Newcastle Falcons will finalise their team after fitness checks on props Carl Hayman and Jon Golding.
Hayman missed last weekend's visit of Cardiff Blues with a back injury, but has been given until the day to prove his fitness along with loosehead Golding, who picked up an ankle injury in that game.
Both have been named in the line-up pending late fitness tests, with the only other changes being at lock forward where the fit-again Tim Swinson replaces Filipo Levi, and on the wing where Danny Williams returns in place of Tom Biggs.
Director of rugby Steve Bates said: "Carl has been making reasonable progress, but the medical team will have a look at him on Sunday and make a call from there to determine whether or not he is fit enough to start."
Bates added: "We know they will test us in pretty much every area, but I felt we gave a decent account of ourselves when we went to Welford Road and could probably count ourselves unlucky not to have taken a bonus point from that game.”
Tickets for Sunday are still available by calling 0871 226 60 60, or from Kingston Park in person and on the day.
Newcastle Falcons:
15 Alex Tait
14 Danny Williams
13 Gcobani Bobo
12 Tane Tu'ipulotu
11 Charlie Amesbury
10 Jimmy Gopperth
9 Micky Young
1 Jon Golding
2 Rob Vickers
3 Carl Hayman (c)
4 James Hudson
5 Tim Swinson
6 Brent Wilson
7 Ed Williamson
8 Josh Afu
Replacements:
16 Matt Thompson
17 Micky Ward
18 Kieran Brookes
19 Filipo Levi
20 Mark Sorenson
21 Hall Charlton
22 Tom Catterick
23 Tom Biggs
