Leicester boss Pat Howard believes his wounded Tigers are ready to deliver a snarling performance against Guinness Premiership rivals Saracens at Welford Road on Monday.
Howard’s men need a point to reclaim their place in the play-off positions, having slipped to fifth following Gloucester’s victory over bottom club Leeds on Saturday.
And Leicester’s shambolic display at Bristol last Tuesday, when a much-changed Tigers outfit lost 15-3 after one of their most inept Premiership performances for several seasons, should provide all the incentive they require.
"I think it was important to make changes going into the Bristol match, but in a way that result has taught us a bit of a lesson," said Howard.
"It was a poor performance, and I think the boys will make amends for that. They’ve been training well and they are looking forward to the match.
"I expect it to be tough against Saracens. It will be really physical and they will put us under pressure.
"But the guys will be up for it and we’ve got a few ex-Sarries’ blokes in our team. I don’t think it will be too hard to get them up for the game."
Leicester hooker and former Saracens player George Chuter admits it is time Tigers hit their straps at the start of a month when they face critical European Cup clashes against French clubs Stade Francais and Clermont Auvergne.
"If we are honest, we haven’t played that well for a while now, and it is getting to a stage where we have to start performing," he said.
"We’ve done okay and have obviously done enough to give ourselves a chance in all three competitions, but we’re going to have to start really performing now."
