Strong loose trio for Tigers

O'Connor came through his first appearance following injury last weekend as Tigers recorded a bonus-point win over Gloucester in the Premiership and is joined in the back row by Fitzgerald and McCaffrey who have both sat out the last two weeks.

In the backline, Mathew Tait returns at fullback and captains the team, with Telusa Veainu switching to the wing and Freddie Burns is alongside Ben Youngs at halfback.

Club captain Ed Slater joins internationals Logovi'i Mulipola and Tom Croft among the replacements.

Leicester Tigers: 15 Mathew Tait (captain), 14 Telusa Veainu, 13 Peter Betham, 12 Manu Tuilagi, 11 Vereniki Goneva, 10 Freddie Burns, 9 Ben Youngs, 8 Lachlan McCaffrey, 7 Brendon O'Connor, 6 Mike Fitzgerald, 5 Graham Kitchener, 4 Dom Barrow, 3 Dan Cole, 2 Harry Thacker, 1 Marcos Ayerza. 

Replacements: 16 Greg Bateman, 17 Logovi'i Mulipola, 18 Fraser Balmain, 19 Ed Slater, 20 Tom Croft, 21 Sam Harrison, 22 Owen Williams, 23 Adam Thompstone.

Date: Sunday, April 11

Venue: Welford Road, Leicester

Kick-off: 13.45 (14.45 French time; 12.45 GMT)

Referee: Nigel Owens (Wales)

Assistant referees: George Clancy (Ireland), Leighton Hodges (Wales)

TMO: Derek Bevan (Wales)