Jordan Crane will start for the Tigers on Saturday

Jordan Crane and Steve Mafi return to the Leicester Tigers team for the Aviva Premiership semi-final against Northampton Saints at Welford Road tomorrow.

After last Saturday’s bonus-point win over London Irish secured a top-place finish in the Aviva Premiership league season for a third successive year, director of rugby Richard Cockerill makes just two changes to his starting line-up, with Crane returning from injury to join skipper Craig Newby and Tom Croft in the back row, and Mafi named at lock.

Cockerill said: “Finishing top of the table shows we are a consistent side week in, week out. That is important for us, but now it all comes down to a semi-final and a big game against a Saints side which has proved to be one of the best in Europe this season.

“All four of the semi-finals sides have finished the league season in good form and it promises to be a very interesting weekend.

“We’ll have another big crowd in at Welford Road, it’s an intense local derby with a big prize to play for so we know we have to be at our best.”

Tickets for Saturday’s game are available now from the Tigers ticket office. Prices are from £15 adult, £5 junior. Phone the hotline on 0844 856 1880, call in at Welford Road or book online at the club website www.leicestertigers.com

Leicester Tigers (v Northampton Saints, Welford Road, Saturday 3.15pm)

15 Scott Hamilton

14 Matt Smith

13 Manu Tuilagi

12 Anthony Allen

11 Alesana Tuilagi

10 Toby Flood

9 Ben Youngs

1 Marcos Ayerza

2 George Chuter

3 Martin Castrogiovanni

4 Steve Mafi

5 George Skivington

6 Tom Croft

7 Craig Newby (c)

8 Jordan Crane

Replacements

16 Rob Hawkins

17 Boris Stankovich

18 Dan Cole

19 Ed Slater

20 Thomas Waldrom

21 James Grindal

22 Jeremy Staunton

23 Horacio Agulla