Leicester Tigers secured a bonus-point 31-27 win over Premiership league leaders Saracens to confirm an away semi-final at Northampton Saints in an entertaining encounter at Welford Road today.
Scores from Manu Tuilagi, Blaine Scully and Graham Kitchener, plus a penalty try, were enough to see off a determined Saracens side, who scored four tries of their own.
Tigers needed the bonus-point victory to have any hope of claiming a home semi-final but Saints' comfortable win over Wasps will see the rivals face off at Franklin's Gardens on Friday.
In anticipation of next week's semi-finals, both sides made sweeping changes. Saracens switched their whole XV from last week's win over Worcester, while Tigers brought in 10 new faces from the victory at Sale.
One of those new faces, Boris Stankovich, one of a number of players appearing at Welford Road for the final time ahead of summer moves, was taken off injured inside the first minute for Marcos Ayerza.
This would prove to be the theme of the half for Tigers, as Geoff Parling, Owen Williams and David Mele would all be substituted in the first 40.
Despite the myriad of changes to both teams, there was no lack of intensity, particularly from league leaders Saracens, who took the lead inside two minutes.
Scrum-half Ben Spencer took the ball from the back of the ruck, faked a pass and darted through a gap in the Tigers' defence. Spencer was tackled before the line, but he stretched out his right arm to grab the five points.
In the blustery conditions at Welford Road, Charlie Hodgson missed his conversion.
Tigers did not take long to respond. Two charge downs from Steve Mafi, making his first Tigers appearance since February, won Tigers possession and then a penalty, which Williams kicked.
Perhaps still adjusting to team changes, Tigers looked defensively vulnerable and nearly conceded a second try in the 10th minute. Charlie Hodgson found a hole and offloaded to Duncan Taylor, who was denied by a terrific last-ditch tackle by Mat Tait.
The move ended with a Saracens penalty, which Hodgson knocked over.
For the remainder of the half, Tigers enjoyed good possession and territory but found no way through the Saracens rearguard. To make matters worse, every Tigers attack seemed to end with another injury.
That was until the dying moments of the half. Dan Bowden, a replacement for Williams, skipped through the Saracens backs to start Tigers best move of the half, which took them within five metres.
A penalty was eventually given for the high tackle that saw Mele substituted and after diving over the tryline, Tigers were awarded a penalty try. Flood converted and Tigers took a 10-8 lead into half-time.
Apart from the tries that bookended the half, the first 40 was limited on action. That all changed in the second period, which was a constant source of activity.
Michael Tagicakibau was sent to the bin for a tip-tackle on Ayerza after 43 minutes and Tigers immediately profited.
The Tigers pack produced a great drive from the 22 to the line, then Mele, having recovered from his injury, flung the ball to Toby Flood, who played it inside to Manu Tuilagi to touch down under the posts.
Sarries flanker Justin Melck was sent off for an off-the-ball incident before Flood converted the try.
With Saracens down to 13, Tigers pushed on and scored their third try of the day. Tuilagi barrelled through four challenges, then found Niall Morris, who delayed his pass before playing the ball wide to Blaine Scully to dive over in the corner. Flood's conversion, with the help of a gust of wind, was successful.
Then came three tries in the space of five minutes. Saracens were awarded a penalty try after a maul was driven over the tryline.
Tigers showed off some quick hands and dancing feet to grab their bonus-point score through Graham Kitchener.
Cheers continued in the stands as Tom Croft returned to the field after eight months out, but were cut short when Jack Wilson touched down after Tigers failed to deal with the restart.
With Tigers comfortable at 31-20, the intensity began to die down. But Spencer had not given up, and intercepted Thomas Waldrom's pass before sprinting half the pitch to bring Saracens back into it.
Tigers managed to hold out and secure the win that confirmed their third place in the Aviva Premiership table.
