Preview: Harlequins v Leicester
Jordan Crane returns to the starting Leicester Tigers line-up for Saturday's Aviva Premiership clash with Harlequins at the Stoop.
Jordan Crane returns to the starting Leicester Tigers line-up for Saturday's Aviva Premiership clash at the Stoop.
The England international has not started a game since scoring a hat-trick of tries in the Heineken Cup win over Benetton Treviso at the end of January.
Crane is named in the number eight shirt, with Thomas Waldrom named among the replacements.
The backline involved in the win over Bath last weekend is unchanged.
Martin Castrogiovanni and George Skivington return to the matchday squad after missing the trip to Bath.
Meanwhile, Nick Evans returns from injury in the Quins number 10 shirt. Rory Clegg, who has been outstanding at fly-half in Evans' absence, starts on the bench.
There is one final change to the side that defeated Gloucester last week; Matt Cairns replaces Chris Brooker on the bench.
Danny Care and Nick Evans will look to re-ignite their scintillating 9-10 partnership, with Jordan Turner-Hall and try scorer George Lowe starting in the centre.
Hat-trick man Ugo Monye and Gonzalo Camacho retain their positions on the wings.
Form: Harlequins have already beaten Leicester in the Anglo-Welsh Cup this season but have not lowered the Tigers colours in the Premiership since a 17-9 victory at the Stoop on 19 April 2003. Harlequins' three game losing run came to a shuddering halt on Saturday with their 53-15 humbling of Gloucester at the Twickenham Stoop. Quins only defeat at the Stoop in the Premiership since December 2009 was 16-20 to Northampton on 11 September. Leicester Tigers have lost just one Aviva Premiership Rugby encounter since round seven: 14-15 at home to Saracens on 5 March. On Saturday at Bath, Tigers achieved their biggest victory in 96 years of visiting The Rec and have not lost away from home in the Premiership since October.
The teams:
Harlequins: 15 Mike Brown, 14 Gonzalo Camacho, 13 George Lowe, 12 Jordan Turner-Hall, 11 Ugo Monye, 10 Nick Evans, 9 Danny Care, 8 Nick Easter, 7 Chris Robshaw (c), 6 Maurie Fa'asavalu, 5 George Robson, 4 Ollie Kohn, 3 John Andress, 2 Joe Gray, 1 Joe Marler.
Replacements: 16 Matt Cairns, 17 Ceri Jones, 18 Mark Lambert, 19 Tomas Vallejos, 20 Will Skinner, 21 Dave Moore, 22 Rory Clegg, 23 Tom Williams.
Leicester Tigers: 15 Scott Hamilton, 14 Horacio Agulla, 13 Manu Tuilagi, 12 Anthony Allen, 11 Alesana Tuilagi, 10 Toby Flood, 9 Ben Youngs, 8 Jordan Crane, 7 Craig Newby (c), 6 Tom Croft 5 Ed Slater, 4 Steve Mafi, 3 Dan Cole, 2 George Chuter, 1 Marcos Ayerza.
Replacements: 16 Rob Hawkins, 17 Boris Stankovich, 18 Martin Castrogiovanni, 19 George Skivington, 20 Thomas Waldrom, 21 James Grindal, 22 Jeremy Staunton, 23 Matt Smith.
Date: Saturday, April 2
Venue: Twickenham Stoop
Kick-off: 17.30 BST (16.30 GMT)
Referee: Wayne Barnes