Director of rugby Richard Cockerill gives starting places to Mathew Tait, Kieran Brookes and Julian Salvi who all joined Tigers during the summer, while two more newcomers are included among the replacements.
George Chuter leads the team as captain for the first time in a competitive match as Geordan Murphy and Louis Deacon are among 11 Tigers players on Rugby World Cup duty and Craig Newby is sidelined after knee surgery.
Cockerill said: “We’ve had a good pre-season in terms of preparation, I’m happy with the squad and happy with the team we’ll have on the field for Saturday. We’re ready to go.
“We’ve got players away at the World Cup and we wish them all well, but I am concerned only with the guys who are with us and representing Leicester. We will go out and fight for every point because that is what I expect from the players every weekend.”
Props Julian White and Camilo Parili Ocampo are ruled out by injury this week. Newby, Jordan Crane and Geoff Parling are also sidelined.
Tickets for Saturday’s game are available now. Phone the Tigers ticket hotline on 0844 856 1880 or call in at Welford Road (open until 5pm Friday and from 9am Saturday). Or book online at www.leicestertigers.com
To mark the opening day of the new season, the club are hosting Tigers In The Park from 11am, featuring live music from Laura White, Charlie & the Martyrs, and the Jack Kenworthy Band, as well as dancing, children’s activities, tag rugby coaching, circus workshop, stalls and refreshments. The event is based in Nelson Mandela Park opposite the stadium and on the concourse outside the Caterpillar Stand. Entry to Tigers In The Park is free to all.
Leicester Tigers (v Exeter Chiefs, Welford Road, Saturday 3pm)
15 Scott Hamilton
14 Matt Smith
13 Billy Twelvetrees
12 Anthony Allen
11 Mathew Tait
10 George Ford
9 James Grindal
1 Boris Stankovich
2 George Chuter (c)
3 Kieran Brookes
4 Ed Slater
5 George Skivington
6 Steve Mafi
7 Julian Salvi
8 Thomas Waldrom
Replacements
16 Rob Hawkins
17 Jonny Harris
18 Peter Bucknall
19 Ben Woods
20 Tom Armes
21 Mickey Young
22 Andy Forsyth
23 Niall Morris
Exeter Chiefs include former Tigers lock Peter Short after his summer switch from Bath Rugby.
Exeter Chiefs
15 Luke Arscott
14 Josh Tatupu
13 Sireli Naqelevuki
12 Jason Shoemark
11 Matt Jess
10 Ignacio Mieres
9 Haydn Thomas
1 Brett Sturgess
2 Chris Whitehead
3 Hoani Tui
4 Peter Short
5 James Hanks
6 Tom Johnson
7 James Scaysbrook (c)
8 Richard Baxter
16 Neil Clark
17 Ben Moon
18 Chris Budgen
19 Tom Hayes
20 Ben White
21 Kevin Barrett
22 Gareth Steenson
23 Bryan Rennie
