Once upon a time: Neil Back and Ben Kay grapple with a Bath player for Leicester
For so long a loyal servant of Leicester - and sure to be one again one day - Neil Back returns to Welford Road in opposition colours this weekend.
He had appllied to be Head Coach of the Tigers, but was eventually passed over for Heyneke Meyer - an ill-fated choice as it turned out when Meyer was forced back to South Africa for family reasons.
Back's former team-mate Richard Cockerill has taken charge now, with the two going head-to-head in tracksuits and a tighter game on the cards than many would predict. Leeds struggled early on, but Back has kept going and his side is beginning to find its feet in the Guinness Premiership.
Ben Kay, another Tigers veteran and former team-mate of Back's, who will be one of Cockerill's ground troops for the clash, will be delighted to welcome Back back to Welford Road - saying his move to Leeds might have been a blessing in disguise.
"It was important for him to leave Leicester, however much he wanted to stay at the club," said Kay to the Leicester Mercury.
"There are always difficulties when you go from playing the game to coaching because there are times when coaches have to say things to players and the players are not necessarily going to agree with them.
"It's much more difficult to say that to a guy you have been playing with last season.
"Going away to a new club, his reputation meant that he had a great deal of respect wherever he went.
"It's easier to do that as opposed to coaching at the same club you have been a player at.
"I remember him having a chat with (former Tigers and England defence coach) Phil Larder at the back of the England bus one day.
"Phil said to him that the most difficult thing for Backy is that he was such a good defender, was so good over the ball and could read the game so well, could he deal with people who didn't have that natural talent on a day-to-day basis?
"From what I hear, he is doing pretty well.
"He was an inspirational player for us and the Leeds players will think the same of him.
Leeds had a breakthrough win at Wasps last week - irrespective of the fact Wasps were missing a few internationals - and after one or two heavy early defeats are now running top opponents closer and closer.
The squad took a fair bit of time and money in the close season to assemble, with the usual 'new boys' mix of old heads and unproven young guns, but is gelling better and better as leaders emerge. Leicester would normally be expected to cruise this match, but not any more.
"He has a good mix of youth and experience up there. Marco Wentzel was with us last season and the likes of Andy Gomarsall know what they are doing," continued Kay.
"In 2001 and 2002, you could pick the games which were going to be tough or relatively easy. But not any more.
"Sides like Leeds looked like they were going to be the whipping boys but they have just been to Wasps and turned them over. They will be no pushover.
"It's important for the club that we continue that winning streak at Welford Road, which has gone on for more than a year now. We didn't perform to the level we should have done on Friday (against Gloucester). It's how you bounce back that is important."
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