The Prem returns!

Tomorrow night sees Gallagher Prem action return after what seems like an eternity! Newcastle Red Bulls will be hosting Leicester Tigers at Kingston for the second time this season.

Tigers go strong

Leicester have named their team and this includes Freddie Steward and Joe Heyes who both saw action for England in the autumn coming straight back into the team. Ex Newcastle duo Adam Radwan and Jamie Blamire are in from the start against their former team. In the forwards keep an eye out for Cameron Henderson who always impresses me in the second row. Then you have the jackal threat of Tommy Reffell at openside.

In the backs I think Orlando Bailey could have his twelve channel targeted as he's more regularly a fly half, they'll look for some magic from Will Wand at outside centre and alongside Radwan on the wings is Ollie Hassell-Collins. On the bench there's the experience of Harry Wells who was one of the stand out players when Leicester won at Kingston Park in The Prem Cup. James O'Connor returns to Kingston Park, he first played here in 2008 for Western Force against Newcastle (makes me feel old)!

From what we saw in The Prem Cup, Leicester under another former Newcastle man Geoff Parling put in an old school Leicester performance. I think there could be some ground to be made in the twelve channel. The other area to target is going to be the lineout, Jamie Blamire's throwing can be put under pressure. Given Red Bulls lineout woes, it could be a complete lottery all evening! The other dangers are obvious, if Red Bulls kick poorly then Radwan and Hassell-Collins will have a field day!

Christie in for his debut

Adam Brocklebank on his one hundred and fiftieth appearance starts in the front row alongside George McGuigan who will relish his battle with Blamire and Murray McCallum makes up the front row. In the second row Oscar Usher who is starting to become a fans favourite partners Jamie Hodgson. The back row sees a deserved start for Freddie Lockwood at blindside, Tom Christie at openside making his Red Bulls debut and Amanaki Mafi who earned his rest from the first block of Prem games, although I still think he should've been in the Japan squad.

At half back there's going to be pressure on Sam Stuart and Brett Connon to control the game. A centre pairing of Max Clark and Alex Hearle will look to target that inside centre channel whilst also being wary of the extra defensive work to help deal with Radwan and Hassell-Collins. The back three sees Liam Williams, Oli Spencer who's had a positive season and Ethan Grayson at full back.

On the bench Ollie Fletcher, Micky Rewcastle and Richard Palframan cover the front row with the experience of Sebastian de Chaves, Cam Neild and Tom Gordon covering the back five. There's two back options of Simon Bentiez Cruz and Boeta Chamberlain.

Do the basics well

Red Bulls know they can't afford to make any errors as Leicester will capitalise on this. I expect to see a lot of Mafi lining up to go at Orlando Bailey. The starting Leicester front row looks strong but there isn't as much experience to come off the bench so the scrum can be targeted later in the game. Olly Cracknell not in the Leicester team is a boost too as he carries very well and Ollie Chessum would be a big miss for any team.

As I've said, the lineout can be targeted. But Leicester could well be saying the same. Leicester will come hard through the forwards to hope they win the arm wrestle, if they do get the upper hand it could be a tough night.

Leadership help

The arrival of Tom Christie and Liam Williams being involved are a huge boost. For George McGuigan to have some calm older heads around him won't be a bad thing as at times it seems like George is trying to do everything himself.

Absentees missed

There's a lengthy absentee list including some players who would be in and around the match day twenty three, your likes of Bello, Arnold, Clarke, Lee-Warner, Elliott Obatoyinbo and Christian Wade all add experience but that's the nature of sport that injuries will happen.

Target time

With autumn internationals out of the way and the majority of the squad here, this is where Red Bulls can start to put things together. It looks as though the South Stand is going to sell out, the metros are off with replacement buses in place between Regent Centre and The Airport so the best thing you can do is get to the ground early and soak up the atmosphere.

The home games are the games to target and what better one to target than tomorrow night!