Leeds v Leicester: Teams
Samoan centre Andy Tuilagi will clash with his former team-mates when Leeds welcome Leicester to Headingley.
Last Updated: 23/11/07 1:48pm
Samoan centre Andy Tuilagi will clash with his former team-mates when Leeds welcome Leicester to Headingley.
Tuilagi had spent time on loan with Carnegie last season before making his switch from the Tigers to Yorkshire permanent.
And that has put him on a collision course with the club where he started his career in England - and where older Freddie, Henry and Alesana have played.
"I was 18 when I first signed for Leicester and it was a big part of my life growing up," he said.
"I remember when I first joined training with guys like Martin Johnson and other England legends.
"Leicester are a great club and they have really helped me and my family down the years.
"Because my brothers were there as well there was a great family feeling at the Tigers but that was the same with all my team-mates as well."
Leeds director of rugby has also welcomed Mike MacDonald and hooker Vili Ma'asi back after injury, while Rhys Oakley also returns to the pack.
Jon Dunbar has been given the all clear to take his place on the bench, while Fosi Pala'amo and James Parkes drop to the bench.
Rested
New Tigers coach Marcelo Loffreda has opted to handed the captaincy to Lewis Moody for the trip to Leeds.
With Martin Corry rested, Loffreda will asked Moody to rally his troops in the former Argentina chief's first Premiership game.
He told the club's official site: : "Lewis is an experienced player, he is very committed on the pitch and he leads by example.
"With Ben Kay also in the team, I have a lot of confidence in their leadership on the field.
"It is my first game in the Premiership and of course everything is new for me.
"There are some changes in the selection so I am looking forward to seeing these players in the team."
The changes in the side see Alex Moreno replace the injured Martin Castrogiovanni at prop, with Tom Youngs starting for the first time this season at centre alongside England international Dan Hipkiss.
Leeds: 15 Leigh Hinton, 14 Apo Satala, 13 Rob Vickerman, 12 Andy Tuilagi, 11 Tom Biggs, 10 Alberto Di Bernardo, 9 Joe Bedford, 1 Mike MacDonald, 2 Vili Ma'asi, 3 Colin Noon, 4 Stuart Hooper, 5 Erik Lund, 6 Danny Paul, 7 Calum Clark,8 Rhys Oakley.
Replacements: 16 Fosi Pala'amo, 17 James Parkes, 18 Pablo Bouza, 19 Jon Dunbar, 20 Darren Edwards, 21 Lee Blackett, 22 Jonny Hepworth.
Leicester: 15 Sam Vesty, 14 Tom Varndell, 13 Dan Hipkiss, 12 Tom Youngs, 11 Johne Murphy, 10 Andy Goode, 9 Frank Murphy, 1 Marcos Ayerza, 2 Mefin Davies, 3 Alex Moreno, 4 James Hamilton, 5 Ben Kay, 6 Tom Croft, 7 Lewis Moody (c), 8 Brett Deacon.
Replacements: 16 George Chuter, 17 Dave Young, 18 Richard Blaze, 19 Luke Abraham, 20 Ben Youngs, 21 Paul Burke, 22 Ayoola Erinle.