Unusually for a home game we are playing on Saturday. The logic behind this is that as England are playing that evening and Ireland the following afternoon, crowds on Saturday afternoon will not be adversely affected. Initial reports are that tickets have sold well, we can expect a big crowd for this game.

By their own very high standards last season was a very poor one indeed for Leicester. They finished sixth in the Premiership and just about managed to scrape a coveted Heineken Cup place for this campaign. This season has been even worse. Currently 10^th in the ZP with 26 points, only two points ahead of 11^th placed Saracens, they have failed to make it past the pool stages of the Heineken Cup. Unused to such mediocre seasons they parted company with their long standing, much respected coach and former player, Dean Richards two weeks ago. They are currently looking to appoint a new coach. In the interim Neil (hand of) Back has stepped in to help fill the gap.

One of the highlights for many of us last season was our unexpected victory over the Tigers at Welford Road. They avenged this in the first game of this season beating us there 29 – 19. In their last ZP game away at Sale they drew 3 – 3, the lowest scoring game in the seven year history of the Zurich Premiership. The post Richards era has thus far not started any better than the previous one ended.

After our much needed victory at Leeds we are currently 5^th in the table on 40 points, ahead of Quins only by virtue of having won more games than them. A much treasured HC place is there for the taking, that said it could just as easily slip from our grasp. The injury problems which particularly hit our small squad in December and January have now eased somewhat. We may end the season looking back at our enforced break as a consequence of the loss to Narbonne and be grateful for it.

From memory, I have never before a match against Leicester expected us to win it. This time I do. Let us however make no mistake. With or without their International stars Leicester are a great team, they have strength in depth. We should also bear in mind that the most dangerous Tiger is a wounded one.