Leicester Tigers v Exeter Chiefs: Aviva Premiership preview

Freddie Burns: Will make his 100th Premiership appearance this weekend

Leicester host Exeter on Saturday knowing that a victory will allow them to leapfrog their opponents and move into the play-off places.

The Tigers will also be out for revenge having suffered a 30-22 defeat to the Chiefs in their most recent outing, in the LV= Cup semi-final.

The visitors will also be hoping to get back to winning ways and cement their second-placed position after suffering their first defeat in seven games at the hands of Saracens last weekend in the LV= Cup final.

A host of internationals return for Leicester with Dan Cole, Geoff Parling, Ben Youngs and Tom Youngs named in the starting XV after turning out for England in their Six Nations finale last weekend.

Leonardo Ghiraldini is also back for the Tigers. The hooker having captained Italy in their defeat to Wales last Saturday.

The game also marks a 100th Premiership appearance for fly-half Freddie Burns.

Exeter, meanwhile, make wholesale changes to the side narrowly beaten by Saracens with Carl Rimmer and Mitch Lees the only starters to have figured in the cup final.

Premiership Player of the Month Henry Slade is recalled to a back line unchanged from recent league outings and former-Leicester back row Thomas Waldrom returns to Welford Road for the first time.

Leicester Tigers: 15 Mathew Tait, 14 Adam Thompstone, 13 Matt Smith, 12 Seremaia Bai, 11 Miles Benjamin, 10 Freddie Burns, 9 Ben Youngs (c); 1 Marcos Ayerza, 2 Tom Youngs, 3 Dan Cole, 4 Sebastian de Chaves, 5 Geoff Parling, 6 Jamie Gibson, 7 Julian Salvi, 8 Jordan Crane.

Replacements: 16 Leonardo Ghiraldini, 17 Logovi'i Mulipola, 18 Fraser Balmain, 19 Jack Whetton, 20 Laurence Pearce, 21 Sam Harrison, 22 Tommy Bell, 23 Vereniki Goneva.

Exeter Chiefs: 15 Phil Dollman, 14 Ian Whitten, 13 Jack Nowell, 12 Sam Hill, 11 Matt Jess, 10 Henry Slade, 9 Will Chudley; 1 Carl Rimmer, 2 Jack Yeandle, 3 Tomas Francis, 4 Mitch Lees, 5 Damian Welch, 6 Dave Ewers, 7 Dean Mumm (c), 8 Thomas Waldrom.

Replacements: 16 Elvis Taione, 17 Ben Moon, 18 Alex Brown, 19 Ben White, 20 Kai Horstmann, 21 Dave Lewis, 22 Gareth Steenson, 23 Tom James.