Leeds v Leicester: Teams

Leeds will welcome back influential skipper Marco Wentzel for the clash against Premiership giants Leicester.

Former Tiger Wentzel started on the bench for the LV= Cup game, but he has been restored to the starting XV.

Leeds have also named Phil Nilsen and Rhys Oakley in their line-up, as Steve Thompson and Hendre Fourie are included in the England squad.

Lachlan McKay has been named on the bench, meaning new signing Adrian Jarvis will have to wait to make his debut.

Tough

Leicester will welcome back six internationals for the visit to Leeds.

Scott Hamilton, Alesana Tuilagi, Craig Newby, Marcos Ayerza, George Chuter and Julian White all come into the starting XV, with the Tigers also boosted by the return of Saxons Manu Tuilagi and Billy Twelvetrees.

Despite being able to name a strong line-up, Leicester director of rugby Richard Cockerill is expecting an 'uncompromising' encounter at Headingley.

"We know it will be a tough battle - it always has been up at Leeds," said Cockerill.

"It will be a tough, uncompromising game, Leeds are desperate for the points and we've got to make sure we battle for everything as much as they do.

"We've got a few players away but we've had a good week's preparation.

"These four Premiership games during the international period are massive for us. If we can take a good share of points in this period then we will be up there contesting semi-finals places in the run-in and that is what we are looking for."

Leeds Carnegie: 15 Leigh Hinton, 14 Lee Blackett, 13 Henry Fa'afili, 12 Scott Barrow, 11 Michael Stephenson, 10 Ceiron Thomas, 9 Warren Fury, 8 Alfie To'oala, 7 Rhys Oakley, 6 Kearnan Myall, 5 Marco Wentzel, 4 Tom Denton, 3 Phil Swainston, 2 Phil Nilsen, 1 Gareth Hardy.
Replacements: 16 Scott Freer, 17 Mike MacDonald, 18 Gareth Denman, 19 James Craig, 20 Daniel Browne, 21 Scott Mathie, 22 Luther Burrell, 23 Lachlan MacKay.

Leicester: 15 Scott Hamilton, 14 Horacio Agulla, 13 Manu Tuilagi, 12 Anthony Allen, 11 Alesana Tuilagi, 10 Jeremy Staunton, 9 James Grindal, 8 Thomas Waldrom, 7 Ben Woods, 6 Craig Newby (capt), 5 George Skivington, 4 Steve Mafi, 3 Julian White, 2 George Chuter, 1 Marcos Ayerza.
Replacements: 16 Joe Duffey, 17 Boris Stankovich, 18 Peter Bucknall, 19 Calum Green, 20 Dan Hemingway, 21 Sam Harrison, 22 Billy Twelvetrees, 23 Dan Hipkiss.