Tigers ready to roar

The Tigers are overwhelming favourites to remain in the hunt for a hat-trick of titles, having already won the Anglo-Welsh Cup and secured a spot in the European Cup final on May 20.

While Richard Hill's Bristol will not be found wanting for organisation and commitment, winning at fortress Welford Road, where the Tigers have been beaten only once in their last 37 games, is a rare occurrence.

But Hill can take heart from the fact that Bristol managed to defeat Leicester in their last league meeting, two weeks ago, albeit against a weakened Tigers team.

Furthermore, it was relegated Northampton that last claimed their scalp at Welford Road, offering proof that against-the-odds wins do happen at the home of the Midlands giants.

But it is hard to see it happening on Saturday. Leicester have such a strong squad that they have been able to rest their Samoan battering ram Alesani Tuilagi for tomorrow's clash and have match winners throughout their side.

Bristol have surprised many this season and a great deal of credit for that has to go to Hill and the band of experienced forwards he has managed so sensibly throughout the campaign.

Lock Roy Winters performances have been outstanding and earned him a nomination for Premiership Player of the Season, while their front-row of David Hilton, Mark Regan and Darren Crompton is arguably the most experienced in the league.

However, Bristol's front row has an average age of over 35 they could struggle if Leicester chose to play a wide game.

It is Leicester's ability to play a tight or expansive game that makes them such a difficult proposition.

They can either keep it in their forwards and use their pack of internationals to steam-roll opponents, as they did so successfully at Munster in the European Cup, or play it through their backs, as they did in the Anglo-Welsh final against the Ospreys.

In centre Dan Hipkiss (pictured) they have arguably the most effective line-breaker in the Premiership this season, and if the England hopeful gets on the front foot then Tom Varndell and Seru Rabeni will be difficult to stop.

Tigers coach Pat Howard has built a formidable squad at Welford Road and has the luxury of bringing on the likes of Tuilagi and England tight-head Julian White to turn the screw in the latter stages of the game.

But it is in the back-row where the Tigers could set a plat-form for another visit to Twickenham. Open-side Shane Jennings has been in rampant form the past few months and Lewis Moody is far more effective at number six, where his destructive talents cough up far fewer penalties.

As for captain Martin Corry, his set-backs last year with England have only served to make him an even better player.

Bristol have surprised most onlookers this season by reaching their first ever Premiership play-off, especially when you consider they were a National League One team three seasons ago.

But they have won at Welford Road only once in the past 20 years and it would take a brave man to bet on them against a Leicester team that seems destined for a unique treble.