Tigers v Gloucester: Teams
Unbeaten Leicester welcome back international duo, while Gloucester chief sticks to his rotation policy.
Last Updated: 05/10/07 6:03pm
If three straight wins wasn't a big enough boost for Leicester, the reigning champions are able to call upon to two of their international stars ahead of schedule.
With both Ireland and Italy heading home early from France, acting Tigers chief Richard Cockerill can call upon the services of Geordan Murphy and Martin Castrogiovanni to face Gloucester.
Cockerill told the club's official site: "It is great to have Geordan and Castro back.
"I am sure they will both be given a fantastic welcome back by the supporters, they are very popular guys and they are both quality players.
"All of the guys who have been here for the first three games have done a tremendous job and we obviously want to keep that momentum, but this is a tough, tough game. Gloucester have had a great start to the season."
Murphy goes straight into the starting XV at full-back - with Johne Murphy moving to the wing - while Castrogiovanni is named among the replacements
The other changes to the squad see Matt Cornwell earn his first start of the season, Julian White return at tighthead prop and Ayoola Erinle named on the bench.
Ryan Lamb may have scooped the Guinness Premiership's player of the month for September and lie joint top of the scoring charts, however that still is not enough to spare him from Gloucester's rotation policy.
Fantastic
With coach Dean Ryan determined to keep his squad as fresh as possible throughout the season, Lamb will have to settle for a place on the bench as Willie Walker starts at fly-half.
Ryan told the club's official site: "Ryan has been in excellent form for us and it was fantastic he was named as the Guinness Premiership's player of the month for September because it recognised his huge talent and development.
"But I have made it clear since the start of the season that the value in a nine month season is the strength of the squad, Willie is a great option for us and we want to see him in action.
"We have had this system in place since the start of the season - it is also applies to the forwards."
Walker is one of two changes to the Gloucester backline, with Leon Lloyd also returning to face his former side in place of the hamstrung James Simpson-Daniel.
In the forwards, Patrice Collazo comes in at loose-head in place of Nick Wood, while on the bench Gareth Cooper and Will James return after World Cup duty with Wales.
Leicester: 15 Geordan Murphy, 14 Johne Murphy, 13 Ollie Smith, 12 Matt Cornwell, 11 Tom Varndell, 10 Andy Goode, 9 Frank Murphy, 1 Boris Stankovich, 2 Benjamin Kayser, 3 Julian White, 4 Louis Deacon (c), 5 Marco Wentzel, 6 Brett Deacon, 7 Luke Abraham, 8 Jordan Crane.
Replacements: 16 Mefin Davies, 17 Martin Castrogiovanni, 18 Richard Blaze, 19 Tom Croft, 20 Ben Youngs, 21 Paul Burke, 22 Ayoola Erinle.
Gloucester: 15 Olly Morgan, 14 Leon Lloyd, 13 Mike Tindall, 12 Anthony Allen, 11 James Bailey, 10 Willie Walker, 9 Mike Prendergast, 1 Patrice Collazo, 2 Olivier Azam, 3 Carlos Nieto, 4 Peter Buxton (c), 5 Alex Brown, 6 Alasdair Strokosch, 7 Andy Hazell, 8 Luke Narraway.
Replacements: 16 Andy Titterrell, 17 Christian Califano, 18 Nick Wood, 19 Will James, 20 Gareth Cooper, 21 Mark Foster, 22 Ryan Lamb.