Steve Borthwick has named the Leicester Tigers matchday squad to face Scarlets in the final pre-season fixture of the 2021/22 schedule.
Borthwick has included 28 players for Thursday evening's match at Mattioli Woods Welford Road (7.00pm), including a first outing in the new season for experienced quartet Ellis Genge, Calum Green, George Ford and Richard Wigglesworth.
Genge, who will lead the team out for the first time since being appointed club captain, starts at loosehead prop in a front row alongside his predecessor Tom Youngs and fellow international Dan Cole.
Green is included in a new-look second-row pairing with Eli Snyman, with George Martin, Tommy Reffell and vice-captain Hanro Liebenberg linking up in the Leicester back row.
Ben Youngs, who featured from the bench in the first pre-season outing in Jersey, starts at scrum-half.
Ford, who was rested from England's summer Test series, is named to start at fly-half.
Dan Kelly and Matt Scott make their first appearance together of the new campaign in the Tigers midfield.
Freddie Steward is named on the wing and is joined by Nemani Nadolo and Bryce Hegarty – in his first appearance at Mattioli Woods Welford Road since arriving at the club over the off-season – in the Tigers back three.
On an extended bench, Borthwick has included front-rowers Nic Dolly, Francois van Wyk and Nephi Leatigaga as well as fellow forwards Cameron Henderson, Ollie Chessum and Gareth Evans.
Among the backs on the 13-man bench is Richard Wigglesworth, who was confirmed to be sharing a playing and coaching role for the upcoming campaign, and Freddie Burns, Juan Pablo Socino, Guy Porter, Kini Murimurivalu, Harry Potter and Hosea Saumaki.
Speaking about the matchday squad named, Borthwick said: "We have another chance to give players game time ahead of the new season including a handful who have not yet featured this pre-season.
"We have a few new combinations, as well as some players in different positions to usual, which is a positive for us as we continue to build competition for places in this squad.
"The goal for this group is to build on what we have seen already this pre-season and continue to develop our way, the Leicester way, ahead of the Premiership season beginning next week."
Previewing Thursday night’s fixture, the Tigers Head Coach added:
"It's a short turn around, which gave us a different training week and conditions to prepare in and ensure we were ready to perform on Thursday night.
"Scarlets are a good side with an experienced squad and led well by a strong coaching team, who present a different challenge to what we have come up against already this pre-season.
"It's also an exciting opportunity for us to play in front of our supporters again in back-to-back games, which many in this squad - including myself - have never experienced at Mattioli Woods Welford Road."
STARTING XV:
15 Bryce Hegarty
14 Freddie Steward
13 Matt Scott
12 Dan Kelly
11 Nemani Nadolo
10 George Ford
9 Ben Youngs
1 Ellis Genge (c)
2 Tom Youngs
3 Dan Cole
4 Calum Green
5 Eli Snyman
6 George Martin
7 Tommy Reffell
8 Hanro Liebenberg (vc)
REPLACEMENTS:
Nic Dolly
Francois van Wyk
Nephi Leatigaga
Cameron Henderson
Ollie Chessum
Gareth Evans
Richard Wigglesworth
Freddie Burns
Juan Pablo Socino
Guy Porter
Kini Murimurivalu
Harry Potter
Hosea Saumaki
Entry to the match is included as part of the 2021/22 Season Ticket, with Breedon Stand and Terrace season ticket holders required to contact the Tigers Ticket Office for details on seat changes due to the closure of the Breedon Stand and Terrace as part of COVID-19 protocols.
Match Tickets are available online HERE.
Supporters who cannot attend the match can livestream the pre-season fixture for FREE. CLICK HERE for livestream information.
