English Premiership: Nick Kennedy faces a fitness test ahead of London Irish's first Premiership final appearance tomorrow. Kennedy suffered a knee injury during Irish's 17-0 victory over play-off opponents Harlequins last weekend, and will undergo a late check.
Irish are unchanged from the team which beat Quins for their Twickenham appointment with Leicester.
Second-row forward Bob Casey leads a side in which veteran Mike Catt retains his place at outhalf, while Delon Armitage remains at outside centre alongside midfield partner Seilala Mapusua.
Irish head coach Toby Booth said: “We’ve worked hard to create the chance to compete in the final of the Premiership and we are looking forward to a great occasion.
“Leicester are always there or thereabouts at finals time. However, the statistics show that being in and winning a final are two completely different things.
“If we perform well tomorrow, we have a good chance of winning. Our self-belief over a long season has earned us this opportunity, and we intend having no regrets come the final whistle.”
Leicester, who face Leinster in the Heineken Cup final next weekend, will once again be led by Geordan Murphy while Johne Murphy will also play on the wing
Prop Martin Castrogiovanni has been ruled out injured, his place in the front-row going to Julian White. White’s promotion to the starting line-up represents Leicester’s solitary change following their victory over play-off rivals Bath last Saturday.
There is no place in Tigers’ match-day 22 for Martin Corry, who will retire at the end of this season.
The Leicester bench, meanwhile, features four England internationals — wing Tom Varndell, scrumhalf Harry Ellis, lock Louis Deacon and flanker Lewis Moody.
Leicester head coach Richard Cockerill said: “The guys have come through some intense games in very good shape, and we have kept changes to a minimum.
“We started very well against Bath last Saturday — probably as well as we have started any game this season — and we deserved to win in the end. You have to keep improving week to week, but Irish are a good side and now we are into a final we know we have to show our best form.”
Leicester: G Murphy (capt); S Hamilton, A Erinle, D Hipkiss, J Murphy; S Vesty, J Dupuy; M Ayerza, G Chuter, J White, T Croft, B Kay, C Newby, B Woods, J Crane. Replacements: B Kayser, D Cole, L Deacon, L Moody, H Ellis, M Smith, T Varndell.
London Irish: P Hewat; A Thompstone, D Armitage, S Mapusua, S Tagicakibau; M Catt, P Hodgson; C Dermody, D Coetzee, R Skuse, N Kennedy, B Casey (capt), D Danaher, S Armitage, C Hala'Ufia. Replacements: A Corbisiero, J Buckland, J Hudson, R Thorpe, E Seveali'i, P Richards, T Homer.
