Quins v Leicester: Teams
Nick Evans returns at fly-half for Harlequins against leaders Leicester in front of the Sky Sports cameras on Saturday.
Last Updated: 02/04/11 8:37am
Nick Evans returns at fly-half for Harlequins against leaders Leicester in front of the Sky Sports cameras on Saturday evening.
The former All Black has not featured for six weeks due to injury but slots in at No.10 with Rory Clegg dropping to the bench for the Aviva Premiership encounter.
Director of rugby Conor O'Shea makes one final change to the matchday squad that humiliated Gloucester 53-15 last week with hooker Matt Cairns replacing Chris Brooker on the bench.
And O'Shea is under no illusions about the challenge Tigers will present as Leicester close in on another play-off appearance and possible third successive league title.
He said: "They are the side that have set, and continue to set, the standards for club rugby, both domestically and in Europe.
Physical
"We know the challenge we face, but we are also aware of the type of side that we are and are aiming to be.
"Playing against Leicester is first and foremost a physical battle, and the players are looking forward to it hugely."
Quins are four points behind fourth-placed Northampton, having played a game more, while Leicester effectively need two wins from their last four games to secure a home play-off tie next month.
Jordan Crane is back at No.8 for Leicester, his first start since scoring a hat-trick of tries in the Heineken Cup win over Benetton Treviso at the end of January.
England hopeful Thomas Waldrom drops to the replacements while the Tigers have otherwise selected the same starting line-up involved in last week's win over Bath.
Forwards Martin Castrogiovanni and George Skivington are back on the bench after missing the trip to the Recreation Ground.
Harlequins: 15 Mike Brown; 14 Gonzalo Camacho, 13 George Lowe, 12 JordanTurner-Hall, 11 Ugo Monye; 10 Nick Evans, 9 Danny Care; 1 Joe Marler, 2 Joe Gray, 3 John Andress; 4 Ollie Kohn, 5 Chris Robshaw; 6 Maurie Fa'asavalu, 7 George Robson, 8 Nick Easter.
Replacements: 16 Matt Cairns, 17 Ceri Jones, 18 Mark Lambert, 19 Thomas Vallejos, 20 Will Skinner, 21 Dave Moore, 22 Rory Clegg, 23 Tom Williams.
Leicester: 14 Scott Hamilton, 14 Horacio Agulla, 13 Manu Tuilagi, 12 Anthony Allen, 11 Alesana Tuilagi, 10 Toby Flood, 9 Ben Youngs; 1 Marcos Ayerza, 2 George Chuter, 3 Dan Cole, 4 Steve Mafi, 5 Ed Slater, 6 Tom Croft, 7 Craig Newby, 8 Jordan Crane (capt).
Replacements: 16 Rob Hawkins, 17 Boris Stankovich, 18 Martin Castrogiovanni, 19 George Skivington, 20 Thomas Waldrom, 21 James Grindal, 22 Jeremy Staunton, 23 Matt Smith.