After last week’s bonus-point win over London Irish secured a top-place finish in the league season for a third year, director of rugby Richard Cockerill makes just two changes to his starting line-up, with Crane returning from injury to join skipper Craig Newby and Tom Croft in the back row and Mafi parterning George Skivington at lock.
Cockerill said: “Finishing top of the table shows we are a consistent side week in, week out. That is important for us, but now it all comes down to a semi-final and a big game against a Saints side which has proved to be one of the best in Europe this season.
“All four of the semi-finalists have finished the league season in good form and it promises to be a very interesting weekend.
“We’ll have another big crowd in at Welford Road, it’s an intense local derby with a big prize to play for, so we know we have to be at our best.”
Tickets for Saturday’s game are available from the Tigers ticket office. Prices are from £15 adult/£5 junior season ticket holders or £20/£5 for all other supporters. Phone the hotline on 0844 856 1880, call in at Welford Road or book online at the club website www.leicestertigers.com
Leicester Tigers (v Northampton Saints, Welford Road, Saturday 3.15pm)
15 Scott Hamilton
14 Matt Smith
13 Manu Tuilagi
12 Anthony Allen
11 Alesana Tuilagi
10 Toby Flood
9 Ben Youngs
1 Marcos Ayerza
2 George Chuter
3 Martin Castrogiovanni
4 Steve Mafi
5 George Skivington
6 Tom Croft
7 Craig Newby (c)
8 Jordan Crane
Replacements
16 Rob Hawkins
17 Boris Stankovich
18 Dan Cole
19 Ed Slater
20 Thomas Waldrom
21 James Grindal
22 Jeremy Staunton
23 Horacio Agulla
Northampton Saints: 15 Ben Foden, 14 Chris Ashton, 13 Jon Clarke, 12 James Downey, 11 Bruce Reihana, 10 Stephen Myler, 9 Lee Dickson; 1 Soane Tonga’uiha, 2 Dylan Hartley (c), 3 Brian Mujati, 4 Courtney Lawes, 5 Christian Day, 6 Calum Clark, 7 Phil Dowson, 8 Roger Wilson. Replacements: 16 Brett Sharman, 17 Alex Waller, 18 Tom Mercey, 19 Mark Sorenson, 20 Mark Easter, 21 Stuart Commins, 22 Shane Geraghty, 23 Joe Ansbro
