Leicester v Leeds: Teams

England scrum-half Harry Ellis returns to the Leicester side for the first time in 10 months for the visit of Leeds to Welford Road.

Ellis has not played a first-team game since injuring a knee against Bristol last April but is back on the Tigers bench.

Centre Alesana Tuilagi also returns to the bench after a groin injury.

Ian Humphreys starts at fly-half alongside Frank Murphy, while Dan Hipkiss partners Ollie Smith in midfield. Tom Varndell joins Johne Murphy and Geordan Murphy in the back three.

White is joined in the front row by Boris Stankovich and Mefin Davies, with Louis Deacon and Croft also in the front five. Brett Deacon, Ben Herring and Jordan Crane complete the forward pack.

Louis Deacon will captain the side with Martin Corry starting on the bench.

Tigers coach Marcelo Loffreda said: "We have had to be patient with Harry and Alesana, they are not the type of injuries to rush. But we are delighted to have them back and add to the options in the squad. They are both world-class players.

"Martin Corry has had a heavy physical load recently and Louis Deacon has always done a great job whenever he has been named captain."

Tykes news

Adam Balding will return to action for Leeds as they travel to face his former club.

Balding extended his loan deal at Headingley Carnegie this week and will remain with the Tykes until the end of the season.

The number eight is one of seven changes made to the starting line up - the only of those in the back line is Alberto Di Bernardo returning to replace James Brooks at fly-half.

Rob Rawlinson replaces Vili Ma'asi at hooker alongside Fosi Pala'amo who is back after being away on compassionate leave, he replaces Tommy McGee who has a rib injury.

Pablo Bouza joins Erik Lund in the second row which means that Kearnan Myall reverts to flanker in place of Jon Dunbar who picked up a knock at the weekend.

Hendre Fourie will start for only the second time since joining Leeds Carnegie in place of Calum Clark whilst Balding replaces Rhys Oakley at the base of the scrum, with Clark and Oakley both suffering from a knee injury and groin strain respectively.

Director of Rugby Stuart Lancaster is still without Richard Welding and Tom Biggs through injury, however he revealed not all the changes to his side have been forced upon him

"Some are enforced by injury however the majority are changes I would have made anyway, the exception to that is Stuart Hooper who would have captained the side if he had not suffered a calf injury in his comeback game against Bath," he said.

"Up front some of the forwards have been working exceptionally hard lately and it is important for me to consider the bigger picture and the mental and physical health of the squad.

"Not only for our trip to Leicester but also our forthcoming games against Bristol, Worcester and Newcastle."

Leicester:15 Geordan Murphy, 14 Tom Varndell, 13 Dan Hipkiss, 12 Ollie Smith, 11 Johne Murphy, 10 Ian Humphreys, 9 Frank Murphy; 1 Boris Stankovich, 2 Mefin Davies, 3 Julian White, 4 Louis Deacon (c), 5 Tom Croft, 6 Brett Deacon, 7 Ben Herring, 8 Jordan Crane.
Replacements: 16 Benjamin Kayser, 17 Martin Castrogiovanni, 18 Martin Corry, 19 Ben Pienaar, 20 Harry Ellis, 21 Andy Goode, 22 Alesana Tuilagi.

Leeds: 15 Leigh Hinton, 14 John Holtby, 13 Jonny Hepworth, 12 Andy Tuilagi, 11 Apo Satala, 10 Alberto Di Bernardo, 9 Joe Bedford (capt); 1 Mike MacDonald, 2 Rob Rawlinson, 3 Fosi Pala'amo, 4 Erik Lund, 5 Pablo Bouza, 6 Kearnan Myall, 7 Hendre Fourie, 8 Adam Balding.
Replacements:16 Adam Hopcroft, 17 Vili Ma'asi, 18 Danny Paul, 19 Mark Lock, 20 James Brooks, 21 Lee Blackett, 22 Rob Vickerman