Tigers have named a strong and exciting squad for this evening's crucial Guinness A League clash with Sale Jets at Welford Road (kick-off 7pm).
A win for Andy Key's side would see them reach the Guinness A League Final for the third season running, but defeat would allow Sale the chance to pip them to the Northern Conference title.
The fixture had been re-scheduled at the request of the visitors but all original tickets will still be valid.
With a host of crunch first-team games on the horizon, Tigers will use the match to give game time to a number of players who are in contention for the end of season run-in.
Six of the backline have first-team experience, while scrum-half Ben Youngs was among the unused replacements for Friday's Guinness Premiership trip to Edgeley Park.
Johne Murphy starts at full back, with Matt Cornwell captaining the side from inside centre and Paul Burke claiming the No.10 shirt.
It's a similar story in the pack, where seven of the eight forwards have apperaed in first-team colurs.
Alex Moreno, James Buckland and Michael Holford make up an experienced front row, while Scotland international James Hamilton joins Ian Nimmo in the second row.
Brett Deacon, Ben Herring and Jordan Crane complete a powerful-looking team as Tigers look to keep their hopes of four trophies very much alive.
"It's a massive game for the club and we're obviously hoping for another fantastic Welford Road crowd," says Key. "The support we've had so far this season has been superb and it's definitely something that has helped our recent success. Even more than that, playing in front of big crowds is an important part of the development process for our young players as it prepares them for the kind of atmosphere they can except to face if and when they are selected for the first team."
Tigers Development vs Sale Jets (kick-off 7pm)
15 Johne Murphy
14 Matt Smith
13 Matt Cornwell (captain)
12 Tom Youngs
11 Ollie Dodge
10 Paul Burke
9 Ben Youngs
A win for Andy Key's side would see them reach the Guinness A League Final for the third season running, but defeat would allow Sale the chance to pip them to the Northern Conference title.
The fixture had been re-scheduled at the request of the visitors but all original tickets will still be valid.
With a host of crunch first-team games on the horizon, Tigers will use the match to give game time to a number of players who are in contention for the end of season run-in.
Six of the backline have first-team experience, while scrum-half Ben Youngs was among the unused replacements for Friday's Guinness Premiership trip to Edgeley Park.
Johne Murphy starts at full back, with Matt Cornwell captaining the side from inside centre and Paul Burke claiming the No.10 shirt.
It's a similar story in the pack, where seven of the eight forwards have apperaed in first-team colurs.
Alex Moreno, James Buckland and Michael Holford make up an experienced front row, while Scotland international James Hamilton joins Ian Nimmo in the second row.
Brett Deacon, Ben Herring and Jordan Crane complete a powerful-looking team as Tigers look to keep their hopes of four trophies very much alive.
"It's a massive game for the club and we're obviously hoping for another fantastic Welford Road crowd," says Key. "The support we've had so far this season has been superb and it's definitely something that has helped our recent success. Even more than that, playing in front of big crowds is an important part of the development process for our young players as it prepares them for the kind of atmosphere they can except to face if and when they are selected for the first team."
Tigers Development vs Sale Jets (kick-off 7pm)
15 Johne Murphy
14 Matt Smith
13 Matt Cornwell (captain)
12 Tom Youngs
11 Ollie Dodge
10 Paul Burke
9 Ben Youngs
1 Alex Moreno
2 James Buckland
3 Michael Holford
4 Ian Nimmo
5 James Hamilton
6 Brett Deacon
7 Ben Herring
8 Jordan Crane
Replacements from
Greg Sammons
Dan Cole
Alex Shaw
Ben Pienaar
Tom Croft
Will Hurrell
