Head coach Richard Cockerill welcomes back internationals Martin Castrogiovanni and Ben Kay to his matchday squad for Saturday's Heineken Cup tie against the Ospreys in Swansea (1.35pm).
Craig Newby starts in the back row after injury to Tom Croft in the win over Viadana last weekend, and Lewis Moody returns at openside.
Castrogiovanni and Kay are named among the replacements alongside fellow internationals George Chuter, Aaron Mauger and Alesana Tuilagi.
Tigers currently top Pool 3, just a point ahead of the Ospreys and French side Clermont Auvergne, with everything to play for as the group stages reach a climax this weekend.
“It’s a massive game, both sides know they can go through with a win or go out in defeat,” said Cockerill.
“We are under pressure every week to perform. The difference this week is that if you lose you are out.
“Ospreys have got dangers all over the field, they have individuals that can break you down, so we have to make sure we are on top of our game.
“We’ve been playing well, we’ve had some decent results in recent weeks and we go there knowing what we have to do.”
Leicester Tigers (v Ospreys, Liberty Stadium, Saturday 1.35pm)
15 Scott Hamilton
14 Johne Murphy
13 Dan Hipkiss
12 Jeremy Staunton
11 Lote Tuqiri
10 Toby Flood
9 Ben Youngs
1 Marcos Ayerza
2 Mefin Davies
3 Dan Cole
4 Louis Deacon (c)
5 Geoff Parling
6 Craig Newby
7 Lewis Moody
8 Jordan Crane
Replacements
16 George Chuter
17 Boris Stankovich
18 Martin Castrogiovanni
19 Ben Kay
20 Ben Woods
21 James Grindal
22 Aaron Mauger
23 Alesana Tuilagi
Craig Newby starts in the back row after injury to Tom Croft in the win over Viadana last weekend, and Lewis Moody returns at openside.
Castrogiovanni and Kay are named among the replacements alongside fellow internationals George Chuter, Aaron Mauger and Alesana Tuilagi.
Tigers currently top Pool 3, just a point ahead of the Ospreys and French side Clermont Auvergne, with everything to play for as the group stages reach a climax this weekend.
“It’s a massive game, both sides know they can go through with a win or go out in defeat,” said Cockerill.
“We are under pressure every week to perform. The difference this week is that if you lose you are out.
“Ospreys have got dangers all over the field, they have individuals that can break you down, so we have to make sure we are on top of our game.
“We’ve been playing well, we’ve had some decent results in recent weeks and we go there knowing what we have to do.”
Leicester Tigers (v Ospreys, Liberty Stadium, Saturday 1.35pm)
15 Scott Hamilton
14 Johne Murphy
13 Dan Hipkiss
12 Jeremy Staunton
11 Lote Tuqiri
10 Toby Flood
9 Ben Youngs
1 Marcos Ayerza
2 Mefin Davies
3 Dan Cole
4 Louis Deacon (c)
5 Geoff Parling
6 Craig Newby
7 Lewis Moody
8 Jordan Crane
Replacements
16 George Chuter
17 Boris Stankovich
18 Martin Castrogiovanni
19 Ben Kay
20 Ben Woods
21 James Grindal
22 Aaron Mauger
23 Alesana Tuilagi
Ospreys
15 Lee Byrne
14 Tommy Bowe
13 Andrew Bishop
12 James Hook
11 Shane Williams
10 Dan Biggar
9 Ricky Januarie
1 Paul James
2 Richard Hibbard
3 Adam Jones
4 Alun-Wyn Jones
5 Jonathan Thomas
6 Jerry Collins
7 Marty Holah
8 Ryan Jones (Capt)
Replacements:
16 Huw Bennett
17 Ryan Bevington
18 Cai Griffiths
19 Ian Gough
20 Filo Tiatia
21 Jamie Nutbrown
22 Sonny Parker
23 Nikki Walker
