Leicester Tigers face the only team with a perfect record in the Premiership Rugby Cup as London Irish travel to Mattioli Woods Welford Road this evening (7.45pm).
The format of the tournament qualifying stages means Tigers host Exiles in a cross-pool fixture with semi-final places and rankings still up for grabs.
Irish have recorded maximum-point wins over Harlequins, Saracens and Northampton in Pool 3, while Tigers are also still in the hunt for a place in the knockout stages with two wins from three rounds.
Tigers are one point behind Pool 2 leaders Newcastle Falcons who are at Northampton on Wednesday in the last evening of the qualifying fixtures.
The three pool winners and the highest-ranked second-place team across all three pools qualify for the semi-finals.
If teams are level in the pool standings, ranking is determined by number of wins. If still equal, placings are then decided by points difference, most points for, number of tries, least number of red cards or, finally, a draw conducted by the tournament director.
The clubs ranked No1 and 2 after the pool stages will play at home in the semi-finals, scheduled for a midweek date in April. The final is played at the home of the highest-ranked finalist.
For full details of the Cup format, click here.
Tigers give debuts to Joe Browning, Lewis Chessum and Emeka Ilione in the starting line-up which also includes the experience of Kini Murimurivalu, Juan Pablo Socino and Olly Robinson plus recent arrival Sean Jansen. There are three more possible debutants on the bench in a squad which includes 11 Tigers Academy graduates.
London Irish include the experience of Allan Dell and Mike Willemse alongside a similar blend of young players including debutants Chandler Cunningham-South, Lucas Brooke and Michael Dykes. Former Ireland international Noel Reid makes his first return to Mattioli Woods Welford Road since leaving the club last year and prop Facundo Gigena is also part of the matchday squad against his former club.
Henry Arundell, who was among the tryscorers in the league game at Tigers earlier this month, starts at full-back.
“It’s a busy week for all clubs in the Premiership, with a midweek game testing the strength in depth of all the squads,” said Declan Kidney, the Irish director of rugby.
“Leicester are going well this season on all fronts, and we need to learn from the last time we played them, but also concentrate and work on playing our own game.”
Referee is Hamish Smales.
There is no live coverage of the game with BT Sport or PRTV this week, but you can follow updates throughout the evening on the club’s Matchday Live service on the Tigers app and website, with full post-match reaction to follow.
This match is included in all season tickets. Match tickets are also on general sale now.
For a full matchday guide, click here.
ELSEWHERE THIS WEEK
Tuesday – Harlequins v Sale Sharks, Wasps v Saracens
Wednesday – Bath Rugby v Worcester Warriors, Bristol Bears v Gloucester Rugby, Northampton Saints v Newcastle Falcons
