In the first of two home games in the space of four days, acting director of rugby Steve Bates has made six changes from the side which faced Worcester Warriors last Friday.
In the front row Jon Golding gets a start at loose head with Andy Long in at hooker, while a shoulder injury for Mark Sorenson sees Andy Buist move up to the second row as Geoff Parling comes on to the blindside flank.
Fit-again Ben Woods returns on the openside after recent hand trouble, while in the backs injury to England centres Toby Flood and Jamie Noon sees Tim Visser and Tom Dillon included in the starting XV.
On the bench there could be a first Kingston Park appearance for back row Ross Beattie in his second spell at the club, while scrum half Hall Charlton returns to the 22 after recovering from a stomach injury.
Coming in to Sunday's game on the back of last weekend's European Challenge Cup exit, Bates said: “The players are clearly disappointed by both the result and aspects of the performance last Friday, but they are a professional bunch and their approach this week in training has been excellent.
“We know that if the levels of focus and commitment are not 100 per cent against a team of Leicester's quality then there is the potential for anything to happen, and that is a very strong motivational factor for these players.”
With quickfire clashes against Leicester, Worcester and Wasps in the space of seven days to contend with, Bates said: “We go in to these next three games with the view that we still have lots of good players with lots to play for, and crucially with two home games in quick succession we have to have the supporters foremost in mind.
“The fans are the people who count, especially at the moment when they are down due to the fact we have had a disappointing return in the league this season.
“They have been ever-present in their backing, both at home and away, and the loyalty they have shown towards us is tremendous. It is our responsibility make sure that we go out in these next two games and give them a positive feeling about this club, and a pride in being associated with it.
“We will go in to this game as underdogs, and I'm expecting Leicester to be as clinical as they always are so we know we will have to be at our very best.
“There will be a few changes for the Wasps game with some fresh bodies coming in for a very competitive outing, and then we will have to review what the status of everybody is for the away game at Worcester, which takes on a slightly different significance.”
With the season drawing to a close, and looking back on a turbulent campaign, he added: “The players have learnt some lessons this season about the competitive nature of this league, and some of those lessons have come about in a very tough manner.
“But they need to respond that challenge, and if we're going to be a club that people want to be part of, then the level of performance clearly has to be raised.
“The circumstances we have found ourselves in towards the back end of the season were never going to be easy and never going to have a quick solution, but with a period of time working on some real fundamental aspects of our play, we will come back stronger.
“I am very optimistic that with hard work we will get it right in the long term, and while I am not happy with the results, I can understand the circumstances that have led to them.”
Tickets for the game are still available by calling 0871 226 60 60, or from Kingston Park during office hours.
Newcastle Falcons team to face Leicester Tigers:
15 Mathew Tait
14 Tom May
13 Tom Dillon
12 Tim Visser
11 John Rudd
10 Jonny Wilkinson
9 James Grindal
1 Jon Golding
2 Andy Long
3 Carl Hayman
4 Andy Perry
5 Andy Buist
6 Geoff Parling
7 Ben Woods
8 Phil Dowson (captain)
Replacements:
16 Rob Vickers
17 David Wilson
18 Ross Beattie
19 Russell Winter
20 Ed Williamson
21 Hall Charlton
22 Ollie Phillips
Not considered due to injury: Matthew Burke (knee), Joe Shaw (knee), James Hoyle (hip), Joe McDonnell (arm), Alex Tait (hamstring), Mark Sorenson (shoulder), Jamie Noon (ankle), Toby Flood (ankle).
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