LEICESTER

Director of Rugby: Matt O’Connor Captain: Tom Youngs Ground: Welford Road Capacity: 25,849

The Tigers could have done without speculation over Matt O’Connor’s future as DoR being top of their preseason agenda, but the fallout from their failure to make the play-offs for the first time since 2004 has weakened the Aussie’s hand. This has resulted in rumours of internal strife with O’Connor unhappy with the assistant coach candidates presented to him by the Leicester board – and until now no appointment made.

With Matt Toomua, the Wallaby playmaker who kick-started last season's revival also absent on international duty, Leicester face a baptism of fire in the opening salvo of the season with away trips to Exeter and Wasps, plus a home clash with Dean Richards’ Newcastle in between.

The Tigers have firepower in the backrow, with No.8 Sione Kalamafoni – who, with 324 carries last season, was far and away the busiest hard yards man in the Premiership – joined by former Wasps dynamo Guy Thompson. However, they need a set piece platform to work off, and, with Logovi’i Mulipola and George McGuigan leaving for Newcastle, the pressure is on Dan Cole, Tom Youngs and company to provide it.

The heat on England Test half-backs Ben Youngs and George Ford is also being turned up because Leicester have strike power to burn with Jonny May and Telusa Veainu in their back three.