Leicester boss Richard Cockerill was handed a vote of confidence from the Tigers' board earlier this week © Getty Images

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Matches: Leicester Tigers 48 - 6 Leeds Tykes

Tournaments/Tours: Aviva Premiership

Teams: Leeds Tykes | Leicester Tigers

Leicester will look to get their Premiership title defence back on track against Leeds Carnegie at Welford Road on Saturday.

One win from three games so far this season leaves the Tigers in the unfamiliar realms of mid-table but a return to home soil against win-less Leeds represents a superb opportunity to return to winning ways. A raft of injuries to key personnel have not helped Leicester's cause but the form of Richard Cockerill's side - that let a 30-18 lead slip against Wasps last weekend - is of equal concern.

Leeds' plight is even worse with a 26-14 home defeat to Saracens last Sunday leaving them rooted firmly to the bottom of the table. After cementing their Premiership status earlier this year, this season was supposed to be all about consolidation but is in danger of turning into an all-too-familiar battle for survival.

Leicester - Player to Watch: Dan Cole impressed off the bench last weekend and he will be determined to do so again after being recalled to the Leicester front-row at the expense of Martin Castrogiovanni.

Leicester - Team News: The Tigers are buoyed by the return of England's Dan Hipkiss, who reclaims the outside-centre berth from Matt Smith. There is also a start for the aforementioned Cole at tight-head prop.

Leeds Carnegie - Player to Watch: The pressure is on fly-half Ceiron Thomas to ensure that Leeds do not miss the injured Christian Lewis-Pratt, who has made an eye-catching start to the season.

Leeds Carnegie - Team News: The visitors make three changes. Behind the scrum, Semi Tadulala drops out so Michael Stephenson switches to the wing, with Leigh Hinton coming into the side at fullback, while, as already mentioned, Thomas takes over from Lewis-Pratt at No.10. Up front, Rhys Oakley replaces Kearnan Myall at blindside flanker.

Key Battle: With Marcos Ayerza, George Chuter and Cole lining up against Mike MacDonald, Steve Thompson and Juan Gomez, there should be some tasty collisions in the set-piece.

Trivia: Leicester and Leeds have the leakiest defences in the Premiership so far having conceded nine tries - already half the tally the Tigers conceded during the whole of the 2009-10 regular season.

Stats: Leicester have won their last six Premiership encounters with Leeds since the Yorkshiremen's last victory: 23-22 at Headingley Carnegie in March 2005. Leeds have lost on all eight previous visits to Welford Road in all competitions.

Odds: Fancy Leicester to run away with it? Bet365 are offering odds of 10/11 for the Tigers to prevail with a handicap of -20 points.

Quote Unquote:

"Everybody wants to look at the negatives - and I can be one of those - but we have to look at the positives. We are doing some great stuff; we just have to work through a slightly sticky patch with injuries. We need to stop coughing up soft tries but there is no panic here." - Tigers boss Richard Cockerill refuses to be too down on his side

"What a challenge we have this weekend and it is exactly what we need at the moment as we look to put things right." - Leeds coach Neil Back is relishing a return to his old stomping ground.

Fantasy: The usually Fantasy-friendly Tigers will have left a lot of gamers shaking their heads in disbelief in the last few weeks. Is it time for you to sharpen your team's claws? Check out the ESPN Premiership Rugby Fantasy Game now!

Prediction: Leeds have never won at Welford Road; despite Leicester's indifferent form, do not expect that run to end this weekend.