Match Preview: Leicester Tigers v Saracens

Leicester Tigers are looking to keep their strong home run going as they welcome Saracens to Mattioli Woods Welford Road on Saturday for a clash filled with international talent.

Tigers have won their last four home games in all competitions while Sarries ended a two-match losing run with victory over Newcastle Falcons in Round 10.

Handre Pollard and Owen Farrell go head-to-head at fly-half in one of countless tantalising individual battles.

TV: Live on TNT Sports, kick-off at 3.05pm

Referee: Luke Pearce

Assistant Referees: Harry Walbaum and Jonathan Healy

TMO: Dean Richards

Leicester Tigers: 15 Freddie Steward, 14 Harry Simmons, 13 Dan Kelly, 12 Solomone Kata, 11 Mike Brown, 10 Handré Pollard, 9 Tom Whiteley; 1 James Cronin, 2 Julián Montoya (c), 3 Joe Heyes, 4 George Martin, 5 Ollie Chessum, 6 Matt Rogerson, 7 Tommy Reffell, 8 Jasper Wiese

Replacements: 16 Finn Theobold-Thomas,** 17 Francois van Wyk,** 18 Will Hurd,** 19 Harry Wells,** 20 Kyle Hatherell,** 21 Olly Cracknell,** 22 Ben Youngs,** 23 Jamie Shillcock

Saracens Men: 15 Tom Parton, 14 Rotimi Segun, 13 Elliot Daly, 12 Nick Tompkins, 11 Lucio Cinti, 10 Owen Farrell (c), 9 Gareth Simpson; 1 Sam Crean , 2 Kapeli Pifeleti, 3 Christian Judge, 4 Maro Itoje, 5 Hugh Tizard, 6 Theo McFarland, 7 Juan Martin Gonzalez, 8 Ben Earl

Replacements: 16 Theo Dan, 17 Logovi’i Mulipola, 18 Ollie Hoskins, 19 Nick Isiekwe , 20 Andy Christie, 21 Ivan van Zyl, 22 Manu Vunipola, 23 Alex Lewington

Oval Insights

Leicester Tigers

• Tom Whiteley was the only player in Round 10 to assist two tries. He has assisted an average of one try every 74 minutes this season.
• Jasper Wiese has beaten more defenders than any other forward this season (31), the third-most in the league overall.
• The Tigers have the best goalkicking success rate in the league (80%). Of the top five point-scorers in the Premiership, Handre Pollard has the best goalkicking success rate (83.3%).
• Just 6% of Leicester Tigers’ carries this season have ended with a pass – fewer than any other team.

Saracens

• Rotimi Segun and Lucio Cinti made the second and third most metres in Round 10: 130 and 118 respectively. Segun also made a round-high 40 metres in contact and both made four clean breaks – as many as any other players.
• Manu Vunipola was the only player in Round 10 to make four offloads. Teammate Theo McFarland also made three.
• Theo McFarland and Nick Isiekwe have made more lineout steals than any other players: six and five respectively. Their combined total of 11 is more than five Premiership teams.
• Saracens have scored more maul tries than any other team (eight). They have also made the second-most maul metres (200).