British & Irish Lions hookers Dylan Hartley and Tom Youngs will fight out their own private duel in the Aviva Premiership final at Twickenham on Saturday and then become team mates for the next six weeks a day later.
Hartley leads his Northampton Saints team into the sell-out occasion at the home of English rugby and will confront Leicester Tigers six Lions. His side got the upper hand over table-topping Saracens in the semi-finals, including their three Lions, and now Hartley is gunning for more scalps.
"We've been through heartache and disappointment in recent years, as well as our good times. Games like the Aviva Premiership semi-finals and at the Millennium Stadium are massive motivators for us," Hartley told Saints TV.
"Fans and players alike all suffer the disappointments so, hopefully, this weekend we can give ourselves something to celebrate instead. For 80 minutes we've got the opportunity to play for a major trophy.
“We've never been to an Aviva Premiership Final before and, despite all the ups and downs, and many people saying things about us and doubting us, we're here and will be doing everything we can to bring home the trophy."
Tigers have included all six of their Lions in an unchanged starting line-up from that which won the semi-final against reigning champions Harlequins.
Leicester Tigers: Mathew Tait; Niall Morris, Manusamoa Tuilagi, Anthony Allen, Vereniki Goneva; Toby Flood (captain), Ben Youngs; Logovi'i Mulipola, Tom Youngs, Dan Cole, Graham Kitchener, Geoff Parling, Tom Croft, Julian Salvi, Jordan Crane
Replacements: Rob Hawkins, Fraser Balmain, Martin Castrogiovanni, Ed Slater, Steve Mafi, Sam Harrison, George Ford, Matt Smith
Northampton Saints: Ben Foden; Ken Pisi, James Wilson, Luther Burrell, Jamie Elliott; Stephen Myler, Lee Dickson; Soane Tonga'uiha, Dylan Hartley (captain), Brian Mujati, Courtney Lawes, Christian Day, Phil Dowson, Tom Wood, Samu Manoa
Replacements: Mike Haywood, Alex Waller, Tom Mercey, Ben Nutley, GJ Van Velze, Martin Roberts, Ryan Lamb, George Pisi
