Leicester v Bath: Teams
Leicester Tigers are aiming to secure a sixth home Aviva Premiership semi-final by beating Bath at Welford Road.
Last Updated: 04/05/12 2:09pm
Leicester Tigers are aiming to secure a sixth home Aviva Premiership semi-final by beating Bath at Welford Road.
The Tigers have qualified for the play-offs for an eighth successive season, but need a victory to fend off Saracens' challenge.
Leicester have won nine straight since losing to Exeter, while Bath are aiming to complete a league double over the Tigers for the first time since the 2003/04 campaign.
The visitors need a bonus-point victory to give themselves any hope of a Heineken Cup spot next season, and even that is still dependent on results elsewhere.
Tigers coach Richard Cockerill has made just two changes to the line-up that beat Harlequins last time out, Martin Castrogiovanni slots in at prop and Steve Mafi takes over the number six jersey from the injured Tom Croft.
Rivalry
"There's a good old rivalry between Leicester and Bath, and we still have everything to play for because we want to go into the semi-finals with some confidence and with a home draw," Cockerill told the club's official website.
"Our form has been good but it doesn't count for a huge amount unless you turn up and do it."
Forwards Craig Newby and Calum Green return to the squad and are named among the replacements.
Hooper out for Bath
Bath are without injured skipper Stuart Hooper for the game, with Lee Mears taking over the captaincy.
Sir Ian McGeechan has made one further change for the encounter, his last in charge of the West Country outfit.
Dave Attwood replaces Hooper in the second row, while on the wing Olly Woodburn comes in for Matt Carraro.
Leicester: 15 Geordan Murphy (c), 14 Horacio Agulla, 13 Manusamoa Tuilagi, 12 Anthony Allen, 11 Alesana Tuilagi, 10 Toby Flood, 9 Ben Youngs,8 Thomas Waldrom, 7 Julian Salvi, 6 Steve Mafi, 5 Geoff Parling, 4 George Skivington, 3 Martin Castrogiovanni, 2 George Chuter, 1 Marcos Ayerza
Replacements: 16 Tom Youngs, 17 Logovi'i Mulipola, 18 Dan Cole, 19 Craig Newby, 20 Calum Green, 21 Sam Harrison, 22 Billy Twelvetrees, 23 Scott Hamilton
Bath: 15 Nick Abendanon, 14 Olly Woodburn, 13 Matt Banahan, 12 Olly Barkley, 11 Tom Biggs, 10 Stephen Donald, 9 Michael Claassens, 8 Simon Taylor, 7 Carl Fearns, 6 Josh Ovens, 5 Ben Skirving, 4 Dave Attwood, 3 David Wilson, 2 Lee Mears, (c) 1 Nathan Catt
Replacements: 16 Ross Batty, 17 Charlie Beech, 18 Duncan Bell, 19 Will Spencer, 20 Guy Mercer, 21 Mark McMillan, 22 Sam Vesty, 23 Kyle Eastmond