Geordan Murphy returns to captain a side which also includes Alesana Tuilagi, Ben Youngs, Marcos Ayerza and Dan Cole after duty at the autumn internationals. Italy prop Martin Castrogiovanni is named among the replacements.
Tigers are without Tom Croft, who suffered a fractured shoulder in England’s defeat by South Africa, and Toby Flood who is recovering from a knock in the same game.
“We’ve come through a testing spell while the internationals have been away, with 10 points in the last three league games,” said Tigers director of rugby Richard Cockerill.
“That has been pretty important for us. But now we’re into another massive period with London Irish on Saturday and then back-to-back fixtures against Perpignan in Europe.
“If we can win at Irish that will cement us in the top four, but if we lose we could slip out of the top places, so it is a big game for us.”
Tigers are without the injured Dan Hipkiss, Geoff Parling, Boris Stankovich and Ben Woods, but Jeremy Staunton is named in the matchday squad for the first time since round three after his recovery from an Achilles injury.
The Madejski Stadium has undersoil heating and an inspection on Thursday confimed the pitch is in perfect, playable condition. London Irish have also arranged for the stadium and the immediate area to be treated to provide a safe entrance and departure for supporters.
There are still some places left on the Tigers Travel Club trip, departure is at 10.30am from the Crumbie car park at Welford Road, with departure from the Madejski 30 minutes after the final whistle. Return travel costs £18. Book your place by calling the Tigers ticket office now on 0844 856 1880.
Leicester Tigers (v London Irish, away, Saturday 2.30pm)
15 Geordan Murphy (c)
14 Scott Hamilton
13 Matt Smith
12 Anthony Allen
11 Alesana Tuilagi
10 Billy Twelvetrees
9 Ben Youngs
1 Marcos Ayerza
2 George Chuter
3 Dan Cole
4 Louis Deacon
5 George Skivington
6 Thomas Waldrom
7 Craig Newby
8 Jordan Crane
Replacements
16 Rob Hawkins
17 Martin Castrogiovanni
18 Peter Bucknall
19 Ed Slater
20 Steve Mafi
21 James Grindal
22 Jeremy Staunton
23 Manu Tuilagi
Former Tigers hooker James Buckland misses out due to injury, but Irish recall Samoan internationals George Stowers, Seilala Mapusua and Sailosi Tagicakibau to the squad, and Delon Armitsage returns from England duty.
Sailosi Tagicakibau is named among the replacements after recovering from injury.
London Irish: 15 Delon Armitage, 14 Topsy Ojo, 13 Elvis Seveali’i, 12 Daniel Bowden, 11 Jonathan Joseph, 10 Ryan Lamb, 9 Paul Hodgson; 1 Clarke Dermody (c), 2 David Paice, 3 Faan Rautenbach, 4 Nick Kennedy, 5 Kieran Roche, 6 George Stowers, 7 Richard Thorpe, 8 Chris Hala’ufia. Replacements: 16 Brian Blaney, 17 Alex Corbisiero, 18 Paulica Ion, 19 Matt Garvey, 20 Steffon Armitage, 21 Sailosi Tagicakibau, 22 Seilala Mapusua, 23 Chris Malone
