A crowd of 3,100 has been permitted for the Leicester Tigers match away to Worcester Warriors this Saturday in line with an easing of Covid restrictions.
Warriors have been able to host supporters just twice at Sixways since March 2020, while it is exactly 15 months since Tigers had an opportunity to open the turnstiles due to the combined effects of national guidelines and local lockdowns.
Tigers have not won at Sixways since a 34-5 victory in March 2018 and have not won away from home in Gallagher Premiership since the trip to Gloucester in Round 13.
Back-rower Hanro Liebenberg, previewing the trip, said: “It is easy to slack off now and say we lost a European Final and say ‘Fair enough, we’re going through the next three games and we’ll see how it goes’, or we can really attack these games and try to build some momentum into the end of the season. I’m sure that is what the boys are going to do.”
Tigers have won 28 of the 36 previous meetings of the clubs and the record at Sixways is lost five, won 13, including the Anglo-Welsh Cup Final there against Northampton in 2012.
Julian Montoya and Jasper Wiese scored two tries each in the victory at Mattioli Woods Welford Road earlier this season against a Worcester squad that had won on three of their previous four visits. Re-live all of the action with the match report by clicking here.
That match marked the 250th appearance for Warriors by full-back Chris Pennell but he is not included for the return fixture.
New signing Jay Tyack goes straight into Warriors team after his move from Cornish Pirates which was brought forward to allow him to play with fellow tighthead props Nick Schonert, Richard Palframan and Conor Carey all injured.
Scotland international fly-half Duncan Weir returns to the squad for the first time since suffering a dislocated shoulder in the match at Mattioli Woods Welford Road in February. He has collected 49 points in his last five appearances against Tigers, including an individual 22-point haul in a 44-37 Warriors victory in September 2018.
Tigers academy graduate Perry Humphreys, a tryscorer in the season’s first meeting, starts on the wing for Warriors.
Ben Youngs captains Tigers this week, taking over from older brother Tom, and there is recall in the backline for Matt Scott, Kobus van Wyk and Johnny McPhillips, with Zack Henry at full-back.
With just three rounds remaining in the league season, Tigers start the weekend in sixth place as part of a tightly-packed group in the middle of the table with only five points separating sixth from 10th-placed Newcastle Falcons.
Referee is Karl Dickson, assisted by Jack Makepeace and Wayne Falla.
Tigers will wear the club’s regular green, white and red kit at Sixways.
There is live coverage on BT Sport 2HD or follow Matchday Live updates on the Tigers website and app, with posts on social media throughout the day and a full package of reaction after the final whistle.
Round 20 fixtures
Friday
Gloucester Rugby v London Irish (7.45pm)
Sale Sharks v Bristol Bears (7.45pm)
Saturday
Harlequins v Bath Rugby (2.00pm)
Worcester Warriors v Leicester Tigers (3.00pm)
Northampton Saints v Wasps (4.30pm)
Sunday
Exeter Chiefs v Newcastle Falcons (1.30pm)
