Steve Borthwick has named the Leicester Tigers matchday squad for Saturday’s Gallagher Premiership fixture against Newcastle Falcons at Kingston Park.
Ellis Genge, Nic Dolly and Dan Cole are the starting front-row.
Charlie Clare, Nephi Leatigaga and Joe Heyes are the replacement front-rowers on the Leicester bench.
The starting locks are Ollie Chessum and Harry Wells with George Martin, Hanro Liebenberg and Jasper Wiese the starting back row.
Cameron Henderson and Tommy Reffell are included in the matchday squad as replacement forwards.
Henderson, if used, will make his first since appearance since Round 5 of this season’s Premiership.
The starting half-backs are Richard Wigglesworth and George Ford, who are partnered to start for just the second game of the campaign.
Guy Porter and Matías Moroni make up the Tigers midfield.
In the back-three, Freddie Steward is the full-back, with Nemani Nadolo and Chris Ashton the wings.
Jack van Poortvliet, Freddie Burns and Matt Scott are the backs included among the replacements.
Burns, if used, will make his 100th appearance for Leicester Tigers.
Previewing Saturday’s match, Tigers Head Coach Borthwick said: “It is a big week for the Falcons with Dean Richards’ final game in charge in Newcastle and, after all he has given and done for the club, his players will be giving their all for him on Saturday afternoon.”
"Newcastle are a team with a powerful scrum and maul, with a dynamic pack. They then have real pace in the backline, which means they can score tries in many different ways, posing a variety of threats.
"It's a really exciting challenge for us and one we are really looking forward to."
STARTING XV
15 Freddie Steward [52]
14 Chris Ashton [9]
13 Matías Moroni [32]
12 Guy Porter [41]
11 Nemani Nadolo [34]
10 George Ford [125]
9 Richard Wigglesworth [35]
1 Ellis Genge (c) [107]
2 Nic Dolly [22]
3 Dan Cole [286]
4 Ollie Chessum [27]
5 Harry Wells [152]
6 George Martin [35]
7 Hanro Liebenberg (vc) [55]
8 Jasper Wiese [41]
REPLACEMENTS
16 Charlie Clare [48]
17 Nephi Leatigaga [64]
18 Joe Heyes [98]
19 Cameron Henderson [19]
20 Tommy Reffell [74]
21 Jack van Poortvliet [45]
22 Freddie Burns [99]
23 Matt Scott [45]
FALCONS XV: 15 Alex Tait, 14 Adam Radwan, 13 Matias Orlando, 12 Luther Burrell, 11 Mateo Carreras, 10 Joel Hodgson, 9 Michael Young; 1 Adam Brocklebank, 2 George McGuigan, 3 Trevor Davison, 4 Greg Peterson, 5 Philip van der Walt, 6 Gary Graham, 7 Josh Basham, 8 Callum Chick (c)
Falcons Replacements: 16 Jamie Blamire, 17 Logovi'i Mulipola, 18 Mark Tampin, 19 Freddie Lockwood, 20 Carl Fearns, 21 Cameron Nordli-Kelemeti, 22 Will Haydon-Wood, 23 Iwan Stephens
