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Team news for Tigers versus Saracens

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George Skivington is restored to the Leicester Tigers starting line-up for Saturday's top-of-the-table clash with Saracens at Welford Road (3.15pm).

The lock, who has been training with the England squad throughout the Six Nations, returns to the Tigers team after coming off the bench in the win at Sale Sharks last Friday.

Skivington’s return allows Tom Croft to move to the back row alongside skipper Craig Newby and No8 Thomas Waldrom.

Richard Cockerill, who retains the same backline for a fourth successive game, said: “We’re going well, we’ve won three from three in the Six Nations period, but we know it only takes a couple of dropped points and a couple of wins for others to change things in the table.

“There is a lot of coming and going with players at this stage of the season, but we’re used to that here, and having Crofty and Castro back in the mix is good for us.

“Saracens are a good side, they’ve got a good set-piece and a good spirit. I’m sure it will be a tough contest this weekend between two good teams.”

Martin Castrogiovanni returns from international duty with Italy and is included among the Tigers replacements as Julian White continues in the front row alongside fellow internationals Marcos Ayerza and George Chuter.

Dan Cole, Louis Deacon, Toby Flood and Ben Youngs are unavailable as members of England’s Six Nations squad. Jordan Crane, Ed Slater and Matt Smith are working their way back from injury, and Geordan Murphy, Ben Pienaar and Geoff Parling are also sidelined.

Tickets for Saturday’s game are available now from the Tigers ticket office. Phone the hotline on 0844 856 1880, call in at Welford Road (open until 5pm Friday and from 9am on matchday) or book online at www.leicestertigers.com and collect from the ticket office on Saturday.

Leicester Tigers (v Saracens, Welford Road, Saturday 3.15pm)
15 Scott Hamilton
14 Horacio Agulla
13 Manu Tuilagi
12 Anthony Allen
11 Alesana Tuilagi
10 Jeremy Staunton
9 James Grindal
1 Marcos Ayerza
2 George Chuter
3 Julian White
4 Steve Mafi
5 George Skivington
6 Tom Croft
7 Craig Newby (c)
8 Thomas Waldrom

Replacements
16 Rob Hawkins
17 Boris Stankovich
18 Martin Castrogiovanni
19 Calum Green
20 Ben Woods
21 Sam Harrison
22 Dan Hipkiss
23 Billy Twelvetrees

Saracens make just one change to the starting line-up from the side that beat London Wasps last weekend with lock Mouritz Botha coming into the side on rotation.

On the bench, Hugh Vyvyan is set to break the record for the all-time Premiership appearances – he is level on 232 with Simon Shaw of Wasps. Scotland international back row Kelly Brown also returns to the squad.

Saracens
15 Alex Goode
14 David Strettle
13 Rodd Penney
12 Brad Barritt
11 Chris Wyles
10 Owen Farrell
9 Richard Wigglesworth
1 Rhys Gill
2 Schalk Brits
3 Carlos Nieto
4 Steve Borthwick (c)
5 Mouritz Botha
6 Justin Melck
7 Andy Saull
8 Ernst Joubert

Replacements:
16 Jamie George
17 Jared Saunders
18 Matt Stevens
19 Hugh Vyvyan
20 Kelly Brown
21 Neil de Kock
22 Adam Powell
23 James Short