Steve Borthwick has named the Leicester Tigers matchday squad for Saturday’s Heineken Champions Cup quarter-final against Leinster Rugby at Mattioli Woods Welford Road.
Ellis Genge, Julián Montoya and Dan Cole are the starting front row.
Genge will lead Leicester Tigers in the club’s first appearance in the tournament quarter-finals for six seasons.
In the only change to the starting side from the club’s last outing, Ollie Chessum returns in the second row alongside Calum Green, while vice-captain Hanro Liebenberg, Tommy Reffell and Jasper Wiese make up the starting back row.
Nic Dolly, James Whitcombe and Joe Heyes are the replacement front-rowers with Harry Wells and George Martin the other forwards on the bench.
Ben Youngs and George Ford start as the half-backs, with Guy Porter and Matías Moroni partnered in the Leicester midfield.
In the back-three, Harry Potter and Chris Ashton are the wings and Freddie Steward starts at full-back.
Richard Wigglesworth, Freddie Burns and Nemani Nadolo are the replacement backs.
Speaking about Saturday’s opponents, Borthwick said: “Leinster are a very good side, with world-class players throughout their squad who have a great understanding of one another and the way they play.
“This is a group that have been together a long time, played a lot of rugby together for Leinster and, most of them, at international level with Ireland.
“It will be an incredible challenge, but what a great opportunity for us against a team of their quality and what a great test.”
STARTING XV
15 Freddie Steward [51]
14 Chris Ashton [8]
13 Matías Moroni [31]
12 Guy Porter [40]
11 Harry Potter [37]
10 George Ford [124]
9 Ben Youngs [278]
1 Ellis Genge (c) [106]
2 Julián Montoya [24]
3 Dan Cole [285]
4 Ollie Chessum [26]
5 Calum Green [87]
6 Hanro Liebenberg (vc) [54]
7 Tommy Reffell [73]
8 Jasper Wiese [40]
REPLACEMENTS
16 Nic Dolly [21]
17 James Whitcombe [22]
18 Joe Heyes [97]
19 Harry Wells [151]
20 George Martin [34]
21 Richard Wigglesworth [34]
22 Freddie Burns [98]
23 Nemani Nadolo [33]
Leinster XV: 15 Hugo Keenan, 14 Jimmy O’Brien, 13 Garry Ringrose, 12 Robbie Henshaw, 11 James Lowe, 10 Johnny Sexton (c), 9 Jamison Gibson-Park; 1 Andrew Porter, 2 Rónan Kelleher, 3 Tadhg Furlong, 4 Ross Molony, 5 James Ryan, 6 Caelan Doris, 7 Josh van der Flier, 8 Jack Conan
Leinster Replacements: 16 Dan Sheehan, 17 Cian Healy, 18 Michael Ala’alatoa, 19 Joe McCarthy, 20 Rhys Ruddock, 21 Luke McGrath, 22 Ross Byrne, 23 Tommy O’Brien
