Tom Croft will mark his 100th starting appearance for Leicester Tigers by captaining the side in today's Aviva Premiership clash against Sale Sharks at Welford Road (3.0)
The England and British & Irish Lions back-row forward has made a successful return from a serious neck injury, sustained just under a year ago, and could prove an influential figure for Tigers' during the final half-dozen games of the regular season.
Mathew Tait returns at full-back against Sale, while Niall Morris is named on the wing. Thomas Waldrom, who was released by England this week, takes the No.8 shirt.
However, alongside the half-dozen Tigers players who remain on England duty, Leicester are still without Anthony Allen, Martin Castrogiovanni, Louis Deacon, Geordan Murphy, Boris Stankovich and Miles Benjamin, who are unavailable due to injury.
Tigers are looking to hit back after defeats against Harlequins and Saracens, which have seen them slip to third place from the top of the table.
"There are still six games remaining so there is a lot of rugby to be played yet, and a lot of points still up for grabs," said director of rugby Richard Cockerill.
"We keep a positive frame of mind and just keep battling away."
