Deacon was rested for last weekend’s win over Sale Sharks as part of the England Elite Player Squad agreement and returns to join Geoff Parling at lock.
Boris Stankovich and George Chuter start alongside Dan Cole in the front row, and Ben Woods starts his first game since September after his recovery from injury as Lewis Moody is rested. Brett Deacon also comes into the back row.
Tigers retain the same backline that started the bonus-point win over Sale Sharks.
Martin Castrogiovanni, Tom Croft, Aaron Mauger, Geordan Murphy and Julian White are unavailable due to injury.
Head coach Richard Cockerill said: “This is a big part of the season for us with Saracens and London Wasps in the Guinness Premiership then two big games in the Heineken Cup before we go into the Six Nations period.
“We’ve had two good wins in the last two weeks and we need to maintain a bit of momentum, but Saracens are at the top of the table and we expect a tough test.”
Leicester Tigers (v Saracens, away, Saturday 3pm)
15 Scott Hamilton
14 Johne Murphy
13 Dan Hipkiss
12 Anthony Allen
11 Lote Tuqiri
10 Toby Flood
9 Ben Youngs
1 Boris Stankovich
2 George Chuter
3 Dan Cole
4 Louis Deacon (c)
5 Geoff Parling
6 Brett Deacon
7 Ben Woods
8 Jordan Crane
Replacements
16 Mefin Davies
17 Robbie Harris
18 Marcos Ayerza
19 Ben Kay
20 Craig Newby
21 James Grindal
22 Jeremy Staunton
23 Alesana Tuilagi
Saracens make three changes – all in the forwards - with Carlos Nieto, Tom Ryder and Andy Saull back in the starting line-up.
Former Tigers lock Tom Ryder is included in the second row, while fly-half Derick Hougaard is among the replacements.
Sarries lost for the first time in the Guinness Premiership this season at London Irish last weekend, but Director of Rugby Brendan Venter said: “You will lose games in sport, but the test of a good team is how you react and I am sure that we will be a better team for that defeat. We will learn from it.
“We are really looking forward to Saturday’s game in front of a big crowd at Vicarage Road. Leicester have an excellent squad of players and have shown that they fully intend to defend their title so we know it will be a very hard game.”
Saracens line-up:
15 Alex Goode
14 Rodd Penney
13 Kameli Ratuvou
12 Brad Barritt
11 Chris Wyles
10 Glen Jackson
9 Justin Marshall
1 Matias Aguero
2 Fabio Ongaro
3 Carlos Nieto
4 Steve Borthwick (c)
5 Tom Ryder
6 Wikus van Heerden
7 Andy Saull
8 Ernst Joubert
Replacements
16 Schalk Brits
17 Rhys Gill
18 Tom Mercey
19 Mouritz Botha
20 Justin Melck
21 Moses Rauluni
22 Derick Hougaard
23 Richard Haughton
