Anthony Allen and Jeremy Staunton will make their league debuts for Leicester Tigers in the Guinness Premiership's opening fixture of the season at Sale Sharks on Friday evening.
Allen partners Dan Hipkiss in the centres as Tigers begin the defence of their league title at Edgeley Park, while Staunton lines up alongside Ben Youngs at half-back.
Fellow summer signings Billy Twelvetrees and James Grindal, both in their second spells at the club, are on a replacements bench which is extended to eight this season to include three front-rowers.
“Everybody in the Guinness Premiership will be keen to get off to a good start,” said Tigers head coach Richard Cockerill.
“You want to come back into training on Monday with some confidence. We have two tough away fixtures to start the season before we get back to Welford Road but you have to take your best game and that is what we intend to do.
“The pre-season work is all done and everyone is very keen to get started. We trust the selected players completely, they are fit and ready to go. We have a good squad, we’ve brought in some new faces this summer and they have settled well, everyone has worked hard, now we want to get back out on the pitch.”
Aaron Mauger, Toby Flood, Sam Vesty, Alesana Tuilagi and Boris Stankovich are unavailable due to injury, while Harry Ellis and Tom Croft sit out this game as part of the rest period agreed for British & Irish Lions players.
Leicester Tigers (v Sale Sharks, Edgeley Park, Friday 7.45pm)
15 Geordan Murphy (captain)
14 Matt Smith
13 Dan Hipkiss
12 Anthony Allen
11 Scott Hamilton
10 Jeremy Staunton
9 Ben Youngs
1 Marcos Ayerza
2 George Chuter
3 Martin Castrogiovanni
4 Richard Blaze
5 Louis Deacon
6 Craig Newby
7 Ben Woods
8 Jordan Crane
Replacements
16 Mefin Davies
17 Julian White
18 Matt Parr
19 Ben Kay
20 Lewis Moody
21 James Grindal
22 Billy Twelvetrees
23 Johne Murphy
Allen partners Dan Hipkiss in the centres as Tigers begin the defence of their league title at Edgeley Park, while Staunton lines up alongside Ben Youngs at half-back.
Fellow summer signings Billy Twelvetrees and James Grindal, both in their second spells at the club, are on a replacements bench which is extended to eight this season to include three front-rowers.
“Everybody in the Guinness Premiership will be keen to get off to a good start,” said Tigers head coach Richard Cockerill.
“You want to come back into training on Monday with some confidence. We have two tough away fixtures to start the season before we get back to Welford Road but you have to take your best game and that is what we intend to do.
“The pre-season work is all done and everyone is very keen to get started. We trust the selected players completely, they are fit and ready to go. We have a good squad, we’ve brought in some new faces this summer and they have settled well, everyone has worked hard, now we want to get back out on the pitch.”
Aaron Mauger, Toby Flood, Sam Vesty, Alesana Tuilagi and Boris Stankovich are unavailable due to injury, while Harry Ellis and Tom Croft sit out this game as part of the rest period agreed for British & Irish Lions players.
Leicester Tigers (v Sale Sharks, Edgeley Park, Friday 7.45pm)
15 Geordan Murphy (captain)
14 Matt Smith
13 Dan Hipkiss
12 Anthony Allen
11 Scott Hamilton
10 Jeremy Staunton
9 Ben Youngs
1 Marcos Ayerza
2 George Chuter
3 Martin Castrogiovanni
4 Richard Blaze
5 Louis Deacon
6 Craig Newby
7 Ben Woods
8 Jordan Crane
Replacements
16 Mefin Davies
17 Julian White
18 Matt Parr
19 Ben Kay
20 Lewis Moody
21 James Grindal
22 Billy Twelvetrees
23 Johne Murphy
