Leicester v Ospreys: Teams

Leicester Tigers renew their European rivalry with old foes the Ospreys in a heavily anticipated Pool 3 opener at Welford Road.

The duo have faced each other four times in the last four seasons with the Tigers holding the upper hand with three victories to the Ospreys' one.

But the Welsh region broke their Heineken Cup duck over the Tigers, who finished runners-up to Leinster at Murrayfield, last season and will have the confidence to take the early bragging rights again.

Both sides won at the weekend but in different styles, Leicester have struggled to score tries this term with just three in the Guinness Premiership while Sean Holley's men equalled that feat in 13 first-half minutes against Edinburgh.

Flanker Lewis Moody has been named in the Tigers back row, while Marcos Ayerza and Julian White return to the Tigers front row after appearing as replacements during last weekend's Guinness Premiership win over Worcester Warriors. George Chuter is named at hooker.

"In this competition it is about putting yourself up against the best of the best," said Tigers head coach Richard Cockerill.

Discipline

"We have had a number of very close encounters with the Ospreys over the last four years and most of those games could have gone either way."

Ospreys have included six members of the British and Irish Lions squad in their matchday 23.

Lee Byrne, Tommy Bowe, James Hook, Shane Williams, Mike Phillips and Alun-Wyn Jones are all named in the starting line-up, while All Blacks back-rower Jerry Collins is brought into the team after missing the win over Edinburgh in the Magners League last week.

Fellow New Zealand back-rower Marty Holah makes his 50th appearance for the team this weekend.

"We are travelling to Welford Road, where Leicester haven't lost at home in a year, so they are clearly a threat, and as finalists last year and winners a couple of times, so they should be," said Ospreys director of coaching Scott Johnson.

"We know it will be difficult, we know we need to keep our discipline and we may have to grind it out. Both teams have top-line goal kickers and to give away three points then means you are chasing the game.

"It will be a hard-fought battle, Leicester haven't conceded too many tries this year so it'll be up to us to do something special to score."

Leicester Tigers: 15 Scott Hamilton, 14 Matt Smith, 13 Dan Hipkiss, 12 Aaron Mauger, 11 Johne Murphy, 10 Jeremy Staunton, 9 Harry Ellis, 8 Jordan Crane, 7 Lewis Moody, 6 Tom Croft, 5 Ben Kay, 4 Louis Deacon, 3 Julian White, 2 George Chuter, 1 Marcos Ayerza.
Replacements: 16 Joe Duffey, 17 Boris Stankovich, 18 Martin Castrogiovanni, 19 Geoff Parling, 20 Craig Newby, 21 Ben Youngs, 22 Anthony Allen, 23 Lucas Amorosino.

Ospreys: 15 Lee Byrne, 14 Nikki Walker, 13 Tommy Bowe, 12 James Hook, 11 Shane Williams, 10 Dan Biggar, 9 Mike Phillips, 8 Ryan Jones, 7 Marty Holah, 6 Jerry Collins, 5 Jonathan Thomas, 4 Alun Wyn Jones, 3 Cai Griffiths, 2 Huw Bennett, 1 Paul James.
Replacements: 16 Richard Hibbard, 17 Craig Mitchell, 18 Ryan Bevington, 19 Ian Gough, 20 Filo Tiatia, 21 Jamie Nutbrown, 22 Andrew Bishop, 23 Sonny Parker.