Leicester v Sale: Teams

Leicester coach Heyneke Meyer has made a number of changes for the Tigers' EDF Energy Cup match against Sale Sharks on Friday.

Lewis Moody makes his first appearance of the season, while Craig Newby is set to make his debut for the club.

Ben Kay will skipper Leicester in the Pool B fixture, which also sees winger Tom Varndell make his return.

Elsewhere, there will be a first home start for fly-half Derick Hougaard, while Seru Rabeni will play at Welford Road for the first time since March.

The backline has been switched, with Matt Smith at full-back, Johne Murphy returning to the wing and Rabeni partnering Tom Youngs at centre.

Julien Dupuy joins Hougaard at half-back.

Benjamin Kayser partners Boris Stankovich and Dan Cole in the front row, with Richard Blaze playing alongside Kay at lock.

Moody is named as openside flanker, with Newby starting at number eight and Brett Deacon completing the back row.

Depth

"There are a few of the seniors away, a few short-term injuries and we also need to rest a few, but there is still a chance to qualify for the semi-finals and it is also important to see the depth of the squad," Meyer said.

"It is great to have Lewis Moody and Craig Newby in there, especially as we have been a bit short of back-row players. They have been brilliant in training and I'm looking forward to seeing them play."

Meanwhile, with Sale now unable to progress in this year's Anglo-Welsh Cup, director of rugby Philippe Saint-Andre has once again chosen to blood younger players.

He said: "We know that we cannot qualify for the semi-finals but this is an excellent opportunity for the younger players to push for a place in the starting line up during the Autumn Internationals and beyond.

"We have used a blend of experience and youth in the EDF Energy Cup this year and we have been far from disgraced in the games against Cardiff and Bath, losing narrowly in both games.

"Last week our front row of O'Donnell, Jones and Halsall was one of the youngest front rows we have ever fielded and they did very well against an experienced Bath front three."

Leicester Tigers: 15-Matt Smith; 14-Johne Murphy, 13-Seru Rabeni, 12-Tom Youngs, 11-Tom Varndell; 10-Derick Hougaard, 9-Julien Dupuy; 1-Boris Stankovich, 2-Benjamin Kayser, 3-Dan Cole, 4-Richard Blaze, 5-Ben Kay, 6-Brett Deacon, 7-Lewis Moody, 8-Craig Newby.
Replacements: 16-Mefin Davies, 17-Marcos Ayerza, 18-Marco Wentzel, 19-Jordan Crane, 20-Ben Youngs, 21-Ayoola Erinle, 22-Sam Vesty.

Sale Sharks: 15-David Doherty; 14-Selorm Kuadey, 13-Rudi Keil, 12-Chris Bell, 11-Ed Styles; 10-Nick McLeod, 9-Dwayne Peel; 1-Rob O'Donnell, 2-Marc Jones, 3-Stuart Turner, 4-Jason White, 5-Dean Schofield, 6-Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe, 7-Michael Hills, 8-Carl Fearns.
Replacements: 16-Dan Ward, 17-Ross Davies, 18-James Gaskell, 19-David Tait, 20-Will Cliff, 21-Mark Atkinson, 22-Jonny Kennedy.