Gibson's fitness a boost for Leicester

Former All Blacks centre Daryl Gibson is fit to line up for Leicester in Sunday's Heineken Cup final against Wasps at Twickenham…

Former All Blacks centre Daryl Gibson is fit to line up for Leicester in Sunday's Heineken Cup final against Wasps at Twickenham.

Gibson, who went off at half-time in the semi-final victory over Llanelli Scarlets last month, replaces Ollie Smith in midfield.

It represents a solitary change from the Tigers side that crushed Gloucester 44-16 in last Saturday's Guinness Premiership final.

Irishman Ian Humphreys, normally an outhalf, will provide scrum-half cover on the bench with his compatriot Frank Murphy continuing in the number nine shirt after Harry Ellis suffered a season-ending knee injury two weeks ago.

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A Leicester victory over Wasps would give them an unprecedented trophy treble this season of Heineken Cup, Premiership title and EDF Energy Cup.

Wasps outhalf Alex King has won his battle to overcome a knee injury and will start.  He last played in the quarter-final victory over Leinster on March 31st, but returns to make his 50th Heineken Cup appearance.

Wasps rugby director Ian McGeechan has gone with a centre partnership of Fraser Waters and Josh Lewsey, so Dominic Waldouck is on the bench, alongside Mark Van Gisbergen, who misses out to Danny Cipriani for full-back duties.

In the pack, Phil Vickery swiches to loosehead prop instead of an injured Tim Payne, while James Haskell again starts among the replacements as McGeechan opts for a back-row of Joe Worsley, Tom Rees and captain Lawrence Dallaglio.

The one surprise selection is also on the bench, where specialist loosehead prop and Wasps academy prospect Tom French features.

McGeechan said: "Tom is technically very sound, and he has played consistently well this season to earn his chance on Sunday."

Ireland's Eoin Reddan starts at scrum-half.

LEICESTER:  Team: G Murphy; S Rabeni, D Hipkiss, D Gibson, A Tuilagi; A Goode, F Murphy; M
Ayerza, G Chuter, J White, L Deacon, B Kay, L Moody, S Jennings, M Corry (capt). Replacements:J Buckland, A Moreno, L Cullen, B Deacon, I Humphreys, S Vesty, O Smith.

WASPS:  Team: D Cipriani; P Sackey, F Waters, J Lewsey, T Voyce; A King, E Reddan; P Vickery, R Ibanez, P Bracken, S Shaw, T Palmer, J Worsley, T Rees, L Dallaglio (capt). Replacements:J Ward, T French, D Leo, J Haskell, M McMillan, D Waldouck, M Van Gisbergen.