Red Bulls head to Tigers

After a couple of weeks away from Gallagher Prem action, Newcastle Red Bulls head to Welford Road to take on Leicester Tigers in The Gallagher Prem tomorrow.

Tigers looking to keep play-off spot

Leicester's challenge for the rest of the season is to keep in the top four and guarantee a play-off spot. That would signal a succesfull first season under Geoff Parling in what could've been seen as a season of change at Welford Road. Last time out they dismantled a poor Gloucester side and had the game won at half time.

I expect Leicester to look for forward dominance and then when the time's right unleash Radwan in space.

Power is in the dna of Leicester and their pack tomorrow is full of it. Nicky Smith, Jamie Blamire and Joe Heyes form the front row. You can nearly guarantee that Blamire will find himself over the line at the back of a maul. The second row sees Cam Henderson partner Ollie Chessum. The back row sees Hanro Liebenberg, the rejuvinated Hamish Watson and Joaquin Moro combine.

The backs see Jack Van Poortvliet combine with Billy Searle who has gone really well this season. Two other form players in Orlando Bailey and Gallagher Prem player of the month Will Wand form a centre partnership. The back three sees Adam Radwan, Gabriel Hamer-Webb and Freddie Steward provide pace and a solid prescene under the high ball.

On the bench Charlie Clare, Tarek Haffar and Will Hurd cover the front row. There's a return from injury for Saracens bound George Martin, Welsh number eight Olly Cracknell covers the back row. Tom Whitelely, Izaia Perese and speedster Oliie Hassell-Collins cover the backs.

Injuries and early releases for Red Bulls

Red Bulls can still make the top eight as unlikely as it seems. They have both Harlequins and Gloucester to play and while there's still a chance they have to belive. Injuries continue to plague the Red Bulls camp but there's a new old face in toon early as Josh Hodge is back and starts.

Up front Micky Rewcastle, Ollie Fletcher and Richard Palframan form the front row. Jamie Hodgson and Adam Scott are in the second row. The back row sees Tom Gordon at blindside, Tom Christie captains from openside and Ollie Leatherbarrow packs down at number eight.

In the backs, there's a new halfback pairing with James Elliott and Ben Healy looking to get the backs going. Rhys Beeckmans who was used more effectively against La Rochelle continues his development alongside Alex Hearle in the centres. Elliott Obatoyinbo, Christian Wade and Josh Hodge form the back three.

On the bench Samson Adejimi, Adam Brocklebank and Murray McCallum cover the front row. Freddie Clarke, Reuben Parsons and Fergus Lee-Warner cover the back five in a six-two bench split. Simon Benitez Cruz and Brett Connon cover the backs.

Red Bulls have to front up

This is a bit of a free hit for Red Bulls but to get anything from this game the forwards are going to have to front up against the Leicester juggernaught that awaits. Defensively they'll be found out if they don't man up and hold width as they didn't against Northampton in the league. If they can get something from this game with Gloucester and Harlequins both having difficult games this weekend they can look to close the gap and put some pressure back on. There's enough in the back three to cause Leicester problems but it all depends on the quality of ball they can get.