Can Leicester boss Richard Cockerill get the Tigers firing on the Heineken Cup stage? © Getty Images

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Matches: Aironi 12 - 28 Leicester Tigers

Tournaments/Tours: Heineken Cup

Teams: Aironi | England | Italy | Leicester Tigers

Leicester will begin their latest assault on the Heineken Cup crown at Aironi's Stadio Luigi Zaffanella in Viadana on Saturday.

Winners of Europe's premier club competition on two previous occasions, the Tigers have struggled to find that kind of form on the domestic stage in the shadow of the Rugby World Cup. Stripped of many of their big names, they have recorded just three wins in all competitions and are currently languishing at the wrong end of the Premiership table.

The Tigers will take heart from Aironi's plight this season with the Italian side having notched just one win in the PRO12 this season but they will be wary of the fact that they stunned Biarritz in last season's competition. Leicester also needed a late rally to edge out Treviso on their last visit to Italy so don't expect them to take their rivals lightly.

Aironi - Player to Watch: Italy centre Andrea Masi was a big money signing in the summer having claimed the Player of the Championship honour in the Six Nations and will need to make an impact against the Tigers if his side are to upset the odds.

Aironi - Team News: Aironi make several changes to the starting line-up beaten at home by Glasgow last weekend. Sinoti Sinoti switches to the right wing to make room for Giovanbattista Venditti on other flank while fly-half Luciano Orquera and scrum-half Tyson Keats form a new half-back pairing. Elsewhere, veteran Salvatore Perugini will pack down at loose-head and Frans Viljoen comes in at No.8.

Leicester Tigers - Player to Watch: Lock Geoff Parling has been in fine form of late and will be hoping to transfer that form to the European arena.

Leicester Tigers - Team News: Geordan Murphy will lead out a team showing three changes from the line-up which started against London Irish last weekend. Dan Cole returns to the front row, with Martin Castrogiovanni set to make his 50th Heineken Cup appearance from among the replacements. In the backline, this season's top try-scorer Niall Morris replaces Scott Hamilton, and Andy Forsyth comes into the centre in place of Horacio Agulla. Argentina international Agulla suffered a hand injury in the match against London Irish and joins Mathew Tait, Manu Tuilagi, Anthony Allen and Billy Twelvetrees on the sidelines.

Key Battle: If the Italian side are to score an upset they will have to win the battle up front so a lot will be expected of Salvatore Perugini, Fabio Ongaro and Fabio Staibano as they tackle their Leicester counterparts Marcos Ayerza, George Chuter and Dan Cole.

Trivia: This is the first time these two sides have met in the Heineken Cup.

Stats: Leicester's 38-year-old Julian White is the second oldest player registered for the competition - behind the Ospreys' 39-year-old hooker Mefin Davies.

Quote Unquote:

"As a squad we are certainly strong than last season with nice blend of seasoned internationals, overseas players and youngsters keen to impress and develop."
Aironi head coach Rowland Phillips

"Everyone is under pressure to get results at the club and that is from top to bottom - from the coaching staff to the players."
-Tigers boss Richard Cockerill is feeling the heat

Prediction: Leicester to put their domestic woes behind them and put the Italians to the sword.