New Leicester Riders signing Anthony Rowe has slotted into the team with such ease that even he has been surprised.

Three games into his Riders career – and three wins on the bounce – has seen Rowe make an impressive contribution.

On his debut, in the home win against Durham Wildcats, Rowe shot a blistering 75 per cent from the floor on his way to 21 points, with 12 rebounds and two assists.

He followed that up in the BBL Cup semi-final first-leg win against Sheffield last Friday with 14 points, six rebounds and three assists, shooting 60 per cent.

Against Glasgow Rocks on Sunday, Rowe top-scored with 25 points, added five rebounds and three assists, and again shot at a remarkably efficient 69 per cent.

The 27-year-old was a shock signing from Plymouth Raiders last month after John Fraley was ruled out for the season with injury, and the British forward is delighted to be part of Rob Paternostro's team at Riders.

"I'm really enjoying it. It's been fantastic, we've a got a very talented group of guys, both on and off the court, and I really do feel grateful to be in this position," said Rowe.

He admitted it had been a wrench to leave Plymouth after a tug-of-war between the two clubs about whether or not he had been officially released.

"It's been a while since I enjoyed basketball as much as this," said Rowe.

"I was devastated to leave Plymouth, but it's been a blessing in disguise, and sometimes you just need a change."

Riders roared to a 90-70 win in Sheffield to put them on the verge of a trip to the National Indoor Arena for the BBL Cup final, and Rowe was happy with the way his team played.

"It was a pretty plain-sailing game for us," he said. "We jumped out early and had control from there on after the first quarter."

Rowe had praise for GB international Drew Sullivan, and said: "It was Drew's first game back from injury and my first time playing with him.

"I knew he was good, from playing against him, but when you're playing in his team, he's superb. He's a real game-changer and, to come back after a couple of weeks out and play like that, shows what a game-changer he is.

"Zaire Taylor and Pavol Losonsky also had good games, but it was a great team performance."

Riders made it a winning weekend by staying top of the BBL table with an 85-73 win at Glasgow on Sunday, much to Rowe's delight.

"It was a tough game for us, and a good test," he said.

"We were up by three at half-time, but they came back at us in the third period, and it would have been a good game for a neutral to watch.

"We really put some defence on them in the fourth period, and to hold them to six points was excellent.

"It was fantastic to be part of that, and the difference between the two sides was that we had another level defensively."

Tomorrow's action in the second leg of the semi-final of the BBL Cup, at the John Sandford Sports Centre, tips-off at 7.30pm, with the winner on aggregate facing Newcastle Eagles in the final on Sunday, January 13.

There are still tickets available for tomorrow's game, telephone 0116 2558635 or visit:

www.leicesterriders.co.uk

A care home supervisor has been cleared by a jury of deliberately failing to get medical help for an 89-year-old resident with a broken leg.

Sarah Bewley (45) was found not guilty of wilfully neglecting an acute dementia sufferer who lacked the capacity to care for herself.

Ms Bewley, of Danehill, Ratby, fought back tears afterwards, saying, "Justice has been done."

She was a team leader at George Hythe House, Croft Road, Beaumont Leys, Leicester, when the alleged incident happened on November 20, 2010.

Ms Bewley told Leicester Crown Court she was never told that the pensioner had suffered a fall or that she appeared in pain.

She told the jury: "If I'd thought she was in pain I would have rung for an ambulance."

It was alleged that Ms Bewley failed to respond to three requests from a care assistant, Gwen Martin, to assess the pensioner, who ended up waiting four hours for help.

After the not guilty verdict was announced, Judge Lynn Tayton QC said: "This case raises very worrying issues, particularly concerning systems that seemed to be in place which created a situation in which no-one took responsibility for the care of this lady.

"She was left in severe and unnecessary pain for a number of hours.

"I hope those in charge of the home have looked at the systems and the staff training."

During the trial, prosecution witness, Mrs Martin claimed she told Ms Bewley that the woman had suffered a fall after being pushed over by another resident and appeared to have a twisted foot.

Mrs Martin said: "It was obvious she was in agony the way she was screaming out."

Ms Bewley disagreed, saying: "Gwen told me she (the resident) was having difficulty weight bearing (standing up)."

Ms Bewley denied telling Mrs Martin she could not see the resident because she was "too busy" attending to paperwork in relation to another resident's death that morning.

Ms Bewley told the court: "I said I'd come and look at her as soon as I could."

She said she twice saw the resident who was sitting in a wheelchair and, although unresponsive, was showing no sign of distress.

"I just thought she was having a bad day because of her condition," she said.

At the time only a team leader had authority to summon medical help, although another care worker told the court the system for getting a doctor or ambulance has since changed.

The prosecution alleged the injury happened about 10.30am and, for the next four hours she was on duty, Ms Bewley never assessed the woman or sought medical help.

The prosecution also alleged she left work at 2.30pm, telling staff that a doctor visiting another resident later that day should be asked to "look in" on the elderly woman.

Ms Bewley said she did not mention any concerns because she was still unaware a fall had taken place.

Another resident's daughter, Catherine Wray, who is a nurse, insisted someone call an ambulance after seeing the woman distressed and screaming.

The woman was taken to hospital and had an operation on her leg fracture, but died on December 16.

The court heard Ms Bewley began her job as team leader, employed by the Leicester Quaker Housing Association, in January, 2010.

She had previously been a care assistant at a BUPA nursing home and, before that, spent 25 years employed as team leader for an electronics company.

Ms Bewley's work appraisals were read out, including one saying she had "improved the quality of care for the residents."

A husband was asked by a coroner if he was involved in the death of his newlywed wife from a drug overdose during their honeymoon.

Damian Cadman-Jones had been married to Kristy for six months when they took a four-week holiday to south east Asia, ending up in Cambodia. Mrs Cadman-Jones, 27, died on January 9, after taking a lethal dose of heroin, believing it was cocaine.

Toxicology reports found she had a "potentially toxic or lethal level" of morphine in her blood – the drug, which heroin is converted to inside the body.

At the inquest at Leicester Town Hall yesterday, deputy coroner Donald Coutts-Wood questioned Mr Cadman-Jones about his involvement in her death, asking him about a call made to life insurance company Zurich about his wife's policy on the day she died. The coroner asked: "Were you in any way involved with others in any intention to end your wife's life?" The 30-year-old solicitor answered: "No," before bursting into tears.

The inquest heard he and his wife, who lived in Broughton Astley, held life insurance policies with Zurich. Mr Coutts-Wood asked: "Did you have any involvement in the referral to Zurich about a claim on that policy on January 9?''

Mr Cadman-Jones replied: "No. On the 9th?''

"The day your wife died,'' the coroner added.

He replied: "No, no way."

The inquest heard Mr Cadman-Jones failed to mention drug use in his first statement to the coroner's office in February. He later told police about the drugs. He said he was told by an independent legal advisor to leave any suspicions out of his first statement and to "keep to the facts."

Mr Cadman-Jones was also quizzed about an e-mail he sent to the British Embassy expressing a desire to have his wife's body embalmed – a process which could dilute drugs in her system, affecting potential toxicology tests. The coroner asked him: "Why were you so desperate to have your wife's body embalmed within 48 hours of her death?''

He answered: "Because Kristy was an only child and I was told that if embalming was to be done it had to be done within 48 hours, and I just wanted Carol (Kristy's mother) to be able to say goodbye to Kristy."

Mr Coutts-Wood asked: "Was the purpose of that e-mail, to get your wife's body embalmed, an attempt by you to cover up any toxicology that could be done?''

"No," Mr Cadman-Jones said.

The inquest at Leicester Town Hall – the venue where the pair married – heard Mr and Mrs Cadman-Jones met another couple in a bar the night before Kristy died. Mr Cadman-Jones, 30, said the couple offered them cocaine, but he refused the drug "for both of us".

Mr and Mrs Cadman-Jones went to bed. When he awoke in the early hours of January 9 he could not wake her, or find a pulse. He called reception, who called a doctor, and began CPR at about 3am. Mrs Cadman-Jones was pronounced dead at about 6am. Her husband said he had not seen her take drugs. He thought her death had been caused either by drugs administered by doctors before she was pronounced dead or a sleeping tablet she had taken.

Toxicologist Paul Smith said Mrs Cadman-Jones' blood contained lethal levels of morphine and lower levels of codeine.

Mr Coutts-Wood said she died from morphine and codeine toxicity.

He recorded an open verdict and said Mr Cadman-Jones' evidence was "not credible".

Mr Coutts-Wood said: "There's only one witness who was present who is able to give evidence in respect as to what happened – that is the deceased's husband.

"I do not find his evidence is credible. There are too many contradictions in the evidence that he has presented to this office and evidence given in this court, I find not credible."

Tony Pike, 59, sales director, Narborough

"I'd like to see Lee Circle car park come down. It looks so out-of-date. It brings the tone of the place down. I remember when there was a club underneath. If the mayor wants to get rid of ugly buildings, it should be next."

Nicholas Zades, 32, businessman, city centre

"I hate the look of the big blue building by the train station. It looks like it doesn't belong. When visitors arrive in the city they must think 'Oh my god! What is that?"

"On the whole, I think Leicester is a beautiful city."

Laura Brennan, 27, catering assistant, Leicester

"I think the Holiday Inn should go. It just doesn't look attractive at all.

"I drive past it every day and always think, 'God that looks awful'. It could definitely do with a facelift but I'd prefer a new, clean-looking modern hotel."

Roxanne Wright, 29, cook, Braunstone, Leicester

"The BT Tower, in Humberstone Road, is an eyesore. You can see it for miles and it just looks horrible and outdated.

"I like the new Phoenix and Curve."

Jon Helsby, 19, office worker, Knighton

"The big blue tower by the Mercury. It's disgusting! It looked bad enough before, but painting it blue, with all the coloured dots, just draws attention to it and makes it look even worse.

"It's an embarrassment."

Danielle Frost, 18, saleswoman, Humberstone

"Elizabeth House, in London Road, is a bit nasty isn't it? It's the blue tower's ugly twin!

"I would like to see more understated, smaller buildings put in its place that don't look so bad."

Imtiaz Mahmood, 30, banker, Uppingham Road, Leicester

"For me, the Thames Tower, or whatever they call it, by the flyover on the ring road, is a terrible looking building. It doesn't make a good impression on anyone visiting the city."

Emeka Okoronkwo, 27, financial adviser, Birstall

"The city could do with losing the Haymarket shopping centre. It's a relic of the 60s and 70s and looks really out of place.

"The Haymarket, from the outside, is run-down and shabby."

Sean St Ledger faces the prospect of more weeks on the sidelines as he battles to recover from injury.

The Republic of Ireland international pulled a hamstring in the 2-0 win over Bristol City at the start of October. But the injury is taking longer to heal than originally thought.

City boss Nigel Pearson admits St Ledger is growing increasing frustrated at his prolonged period on the treatment table.

"It is a longer-term one than we thought, but we will just see how that develops," said Pearson. "It is disappointing to have him missing for so long but that is the nature of this injury. It is hard to put time scales on these types of injuries.

"Sean does get very frustrated because he is the type of character that wants to be training and playing every day, but we are not going to rush him back.

"When he comes back, I want him back 100 per cent."

Pearson said City are still having to manage top scorer David Nugent's neck problem. Nugent suffered the injury in the 2-2 home draw with Nottingham Forest. He then scored a double in the 6-0 victory over Ipswich before being forced to come off and miss the next two games.

He returned last Saturday as a substitute and scored twice in the 4-1 win over Derby, despite being unable to train properly the week before.

Pearson admits City's medical team are still being cautious with Nugent, who has scored five goals in the last three games he has played.

However, Pearson is confident the star striker will be fit to face Barnsley tomorrow.

"He trained yesterday and we will manage that and see if he is available for Saturday," said Pearson.

"Fingers crossed he will be. Because of the nature of the injury we have to make sure we have an open mind on it.

"There will be days when he is not feeling quite right. Hopefully, he and we will manage it so he will be available."

City have no other injury worries and winger Anthony Knockaert, who is the subject of a police investigation into a public order incident last Saturday night, will be in the squad.

Leicester City are poised to plunge into the January transfer market.

Manager Nigel Pearson said he is pleased with the way his current squad has been shaping up but could make additions to give their promotion push greater momentum.

City this week extended the loans of Manchester United youngsters Michael Keane and Jesse Lingard until January 2, but Pearson said he and his staff are constantly scouting for possible new recruits and said they may try to bring in a couple nore next month.

"Everything depends on what happens between now and then," said Pearson.

"It is an on-going process. We are always monitoring players. It is not a case of the window being about to open so we have to start. If you start looking now then you have left it too late.

"There are a number of criteria which will determine what business we do. The squad is shaping up nicely at the moment, and players are performing well, so, on the face of it, there is not a lot to do.

"Having said that, once you get to January you want to be going into the second half of the season with enough options.

"But we will only add players if we feel they will improve the squad. That is the key factor to all of this."

Pearson said he was delighted that United had agreed to extend the loans of the 19-year-olds.

Keane managed just under an hour of his debut at Bolton Wanderers until a hamstring injury cut short his loan spell, while Lingard has made four substitute appearances for City during his first month at the King Power Stadium.

Keane is not yet fit to return to City but Pearson said both players will add depth to the squad.

"Keane will hopefully be back with us in the next week or so," said Pearson. "He is frustrated by the injury but that happens in football and you have to deal with setbacks.

"Both of them give us more options going into a busy period and I am delighted Manchester United have agreed to extend the loans of both players.

"We get something out of it in terms of getting two more players who are exciting prospects.

"For the players, hopefully they get pitch time, and hopefully United see it as good for their players. It is good to be able to extend the deals."

Plans to create a major office district close to Leicester railway station aimed at attracting hundreds of jobs have been shelved.

Leicester mayor Sir Peter Soulsby said setting up an office quarter in and around St George's Way was no longer a priority.

Instead, the mayor has backed proposals to develop high-quality offices on two plots of land on the other side of city, in Vaughan Way.

It comes after a study set up by Sir Peter identified sites which could be built on much sooner.

An office quarter close to the station formed a key part of the city's regeneration masterplan when it was launched 10 years ago.

However, the presence of the St George's Blue Tower and the Royal Mail sorting depot have held back re-development.

Sir Peter said: "I believe the council has been too restrictive in trying to direct office development into a particular part of the city in a way that means opportunities could have been missed.

"We have seen too much concentration on that area.

"However, the area around the train station still has enormous prospects, simply because businesses say access to the Midland Mainline is a major attraction."

The two plots in Vaughan Way – one near its junction with Great Central Street and the other at the junction with Highcross Street – are jointly owned by developers Sowden Group, of Leicester, and Loughborough's William Davis.

The study, carried out by property professionals, found the two sites, as well as Leicester Science Park, off Abbey Lane, should be priorities when it came to creating new office space in the city.

"What was interesting is that people who have a stake in some of the land are very positive about the prospects for development," said Sir Peter. "They are the ones who have to judge what the market forces are in Leicester."

The focus on Vaughan Way brought some concern from business leaders at an event to reveal the findings of the study, held at the city's Colton Square.

Speaking at the event, Duncan Green, partner at architecture firm Pick Everard, in Charles Street, Leicester, said: "These sites are on the wrong side of the ring road. Access to the station is very important."

Jesse Lingard will be added to the Leicester squad for Barnsley's visit to the King Power Stadium.

Lingard played for Manchester United's Under-21 team this week following the end of his initial loan spell with the Foxes but the midfielder has returned to the npower Championship club on a deal that runs into the new year.

David Nugent was a surprise inclusion in the squad against Derby last weekend after slipping a disc in his neck recently but Leicester's leading goalscorer came on as a substitute and netted twice in the 4-1 home victory and could now be pushing for a recall to the starting line-up.

Fellow strikers Marko Futacs and Jeff Schlupp, midfielders Ben Marshall and Matty James and defender Liam Moore are also options for Pearson should he opt to change a winning team.

Centre-half Sean St Ledger remains the only absentee with the hamstring problem that has now kept him on the sidelines for two months.

Barnsley could be without influential midfielder Jacob Mellis.

Mellis has been a virtual ever-present for manager Keith Hill this season, but sustained a dead-leg in last week's heavy defeat at Watford and is rated as very doubtful.

Teenager Reuben Noble-Lazarus, Stephen Dawson, Tomasz Cywka and Jim O'Brien will all be hoping to return to the starting line-up in Mellis' absence.

Another midfielder, David Perkins, remains sidelined with a hamstring problem, but Hill has no other new injury or suspension problems and apart from a replacement for Mellis has hinted he will not be making changes.

On-loan trio Akos Buzsaky, Jonathan Greening and Emile Sinclair are expected to start again.

But striker Mido is still not in contention following a back problem as the South Yorkshire side chase their first league win in 10 matches.

Mercury readers have helped put a massive £20,000 dent in our Christmas appeal to help Leicester Children's Holiday Centre, in Mablethorpe.

Thanks to the generosity of supporters, the appeal is on track to meet its £65,000 target to cover the cost of vital upgrades to the boiler and heating system at the centre, situated in the Lincolnshire resort.

Stalwart fund-raisers gathered at Leicester's Guildhall for their annual Christmas celebration, where charity chairman Jim Roberts said he felt "humbled" by the response to the appeal.

"Just to run the centre costs us about £135,000 every year," he said. "That goes on throughout the year, but we are really up against it if something goes wrong, like our boiler being condemned, which happened recently.

"Without this extra help, we would have to close the centre.

"The response from our supporters has been fantastic, it's humbling, there's no other way to put it.

"It shows the wonderful support we have right across Leicestershire.

"The Mercury appeal is specifically to fix our boilers. So far, we have raised £20,000 but, the way things are going, we'll not only be able to do that, but also contribute a significant amount towards revamping the central heating system."

The centre has provided seaside holidays for under-privileged youngsters from Leicestershire for more than a century. Among the 60 people who gathered for Thursday's Christmas Miscellany, which raised about £400 towards the appeal through ticket sales and a raffle, was Pam Rickets, 69, of Barwell.

The memory of the fortnight she spent at the children's seaside retreat as a 10-year-old has stayed with her to this day.

"It was the only holiday I had as a child," said Pam, who was the second oldest of five children growing up in a terraced house in the now-demolished Gresham Street, Leicester, close to where Catherine Street stands today.

She said: "My parents did their best but we were very poor. To have my own bed and all the lovely food, sea and fresh air was wonderful. It was like a five-star hotel.

"The holiday is something I remember with a great deal of affection. The holiday centre means so much to me and I know how important it is to many kids today, too."

Kerry Smith, from Desford, said: "My late father went to Mablethorpe as a boy.

It was his favourite memory and, despite suffering with dementia in later years, it's something that stayed crystal-clear in his mind.''

Entertainment at the Guildhall, compèred by entertainer Derrick "Banjo Dez" Pearce, included performances from barbershop quartet SoClose, musicians T43 and the Tudor Choir, plus comedian Bob Paul.

Mr Roberts said: "It has become a tradition for the charity to organise a very special evening at the Guildhall, with its wonderful atmosphere.

"The evening brings together entertainment from a variety of talented people and includes a sumptuous buffet supper in the mayor's parlour.

"It was a great evening."

A woman was targeted by thieves moments after she had withdrawn money from a bank.

The incident happened at about 4.30pm on Thursday, November 29.

The 38-year-old victim had withdrawn a quantity of cash from a bank in Granby Street, Leicester, and entered a shop in Gallowtree Gate when she was approached by a man who claimed she had a mark on the back of her coat.

A second man then appeared and offered her a tissue.

Both men then left, and the victim later discovered the money had been taken from her handbag.

Footage captured by CCTV cameras showed a further man and a woman remove the money from the victim's handbag while she was being distracted by the first two men.

Pcso Richard Allured, of the city centre neighbourhood beat team, said: "Our inquiries have so far confirmed that one of the men was in the bank at the same time as the victim, and we believe witnessed her withdrawing this money."

He added: "We would like to use this opportunity to remind people to be cautious when withdrawing large sums of money from a bank or building society."

Police have issued the following tips that people should bear in mind when withdrawing cash from a bank: never leave your bag containing the money unattended; be wary of someone standing extremely close to you or in a suspicious distracting manner; separate the money into smaller bundles and place in separate, secure sections of your bag.

Police have issued images of people they would like to speak to about the incident.

Anyone who recognises any of the people pictured is asked to contact Pcso Allured on 101, or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Sir Clive Loader has said he is "99 per cent" sure he will not be appointing a deputy to assist him in his new role as Leicestershire and Rutland's police and crime commissioner.

The Conservative former RAF chief does not believe he needs a second-in-command to help him in his role.

Under the new legislation, commissioners are entitled to appoint a deputy if they wish and, so far, 15 of Sir Clive's 40 counterparts elsewhere in the country have done so.

Some of the appointments have attracted criticism from the police think tank The Police Foundation because of the cost of substantial salaries.

However, Sir Clive, who is paid £70,000 in his new role, told the Leicester Mercury he was almost certain he will not be following other commissioners' leads.

He said: "The people elected me to do the job and I do not see that the job requires a deputy.

"I'm not 100 per cent sure but I am 99 per cent sure.

"One of the reasons I am allergic to the idea is the cost of it.

"I see that another commissioner (Northamptonshire) has appointed four assistants at £68,000.

"I want to keep the expenses as low as possible."

Sir Clive admitted he still had to gauge the full scale of the job he has taken on, but said he has been putting 70 to 80 hours a week in during his first fortnight.

Sir Clive said defeated Labour candidate Sarah Russell had intended to appoint a deputy, but said: "It (having a deputy) has never been part of my thinking.

"It wasn't during my campaign. The fact that deputies' positions are attracting some criticism in the media confirms that my thinking has been right."

Coun Russell said: "I was intending to have a deputy.

"I did say that, had I won, after Christmas I would have looked at appointing one after I got a sense of the scale of the workload.

"Perhaps I would have had someone to do one day a week if cover was needed.

"He (Sir Clive) will do things his own way but there are questions like what will happen when he is on holiday.

"The idea of having a deputy is also about having someone to work through ideas with and challenge you."

Sir Clive said: "I am contactable. There are very few places in the world where someone cannot get hold of me if I am needed.

"There may be times when my chief executive represents me but I don't want or need a deputy.

"What would I used one for?

"If I am invited to something and I send someone else that sends out the wrong message to me.

"I have always said I do not want a bloated office."

The total cost of Sir Clive's office is £450,000 a year.

That includes a permanent staff of a chief executive, chief finance officer, a head of governance, two governance support officers, an office administrator and a policy and performance officer.

He has a communications officer, a finance officer and a planning performance officer on temporary appointments.

It seems as though we'd only just got back into the swing of Aviva Premiership action when the Heineken Cup lurches its way back into the forefront of our minds.

On the back of a hard-fought 17-12 victory over Bath last weekend, Leicester Tigers welcome bottom-of-the-pool Italian side Treviso to Welford Road, tomorrow, in their third game in Pool 2.

It's a crucial one at that. Tigers still lie third, but with Toulouse failing to pick up a bonus point when they locked horns with the Italians, Tigers have the chance to make inroads in their quest for qualification.

But Tigers need to win, and win well.

If the sides' previous encounters are anything to go by, notching up a four-try bonus point should not prove too much of a problem.

In the four times Tigers have faced Treviso, they have scored a combined total of 31 tries and, obviously, picked up a four-try bonus on each of these occasions.

Their 52-0 victory in January 2009 was the then-second-fastest bonus point in Heineken Cup history – Tigers wrapped up the bonus thanks to four tries in the first 26 minutes.

But it may be a tougher prospect than one may imagine. The Italian sides are no longer the whipping boys and are rapidly catching up with the big boys of European rugby.

Having said that, Tigers will be buoyed by the return of their triumphant England stars, still on a high from their 38-21 victory over world champions New Zealand.

They welcome back both the Youngs brothers. Ben comes straight in at scrum-half for Micky Young, who drops to the bench, while Tom starts at hooker.

The proud moments just keep coming for Geoff Parling.

Tigers director of rugby Richard Cockerill has named the England lock as captain and he will lead out the side on his 50th start for the club.

But fly-half Toby Flood, who was ruled out of England's historic win over the All Blacks with ligament damage to his big toe, has still not recovered in time, so George Ford keeps his place at No.10.

Cockerill will be hoping that Manu Tuilagi can do similar damage to the Treviso backline as he did to New Zealand's. The centre, who had a hand in all three of England's tries, including one for himself, has been named in the starting line-up.

He starts alongside Dan Bowden, who comes into the centres in place of Anthony Allen is, unsurprisingly, ruled out following the horrible head-bang he received last weekend.

Dan Cole also returns from England duty and is named among the replacements as Martin Castrogiovanni starts in the front-row.

They also have returning firepower on the wings. Vereniki Goneva is back in a Tigers shirt after his autumn international series with Fiji, while Scott Hamilton returns from injury.

Club captain Geordan Murphy is again on the bench in his second game since returning from injury. It will come as a huge boost to Tigers to have their most-capped Heineken Cup player and their leading competition try-scorer back among their ranks.

Logovi'i Mulipola also returns from injury to boost Cockerill's options in the replacements but they are without Louis Deacon, Steve Mafi, Miles Benjamin, Tom Croft and Wessel Jooste due to injury.

Brett Deacon is suspended for the game following his one-week ban for punching Bath's Matt Banahan, while Boris Stankovich serves the last of his three-match ban.

Leicester Tigers will be looking to get off to a flyer against Treviso, says flanker Julian Salvi.

Tigers have been guilty of starting slowly this season – last weekend's victory over Bath was the sixth consecutive Aviva Premiership game in which they have failed to score first.

Despite spending most of the first half inside Bath's 22, Tigers went into half-time 5-0 down.

But they will be looking to start strongly tomorrow as they go in search of a bonus point against Treviso to help their quest for qualification.

"You do have to watch the slow starts," said Australian flanker Salvi. "It is something that we will be wary of this weekend.

"We will be looking to set up fast and try to rectify it.

"We want to get the five points out of this game but you've got to look at the fact that Treviso are a good team and will be tough to break down.

"We know that we've got the game plan and the players to break that down and score tries. Having said that, you look back at the Ospreys game and no-one would have thought that we would get four tries and end up getting the bonus point in the last 10 minutes.

"So the games can open up, but sometimes it takes time, you've just got to be patient during a game and make the most of the opportunities when they come."

But despite the 5-0 half-time deficit against Bath, Salvi didn't think Tigers had started too poorly.

"I don't think it was a slow start at all," he said. "We were on the back foot for the first five minutes but defended quite well and ended up getting a penalty. We kicked ourselves into territory and, for the majority of the first half, we had the ball.

"At the time they scored, I think I was down with a bleeding nose and half-conscious, someone else had fallen over, so we were almost playing 15-on-13 and Donald managed to sneak through. I don't think it was any lapse from our end.

"You are always aware of making a good start, but if you do start slowly, as long as you switch into gear after five or 10 minutes and get your game into check, the majority of the time you'll be fine."