What time and what TV channel is Leicester Tigers v Ulster on in the Champions Cup tonight?
The biggest game of the season for Richie Murphy and his Ulster side to date as they look for the kind of performance that will give them a chance on the Tigers' formidable home patch. To have a chance of progressing in this tournament, they will hav
There's no wriggle room left for Ulster after heavy defeats to Top 14 high-flyers Bordeaux Begles and Toulouse in the opening two rounds.
The aim will be to make next Friday's final pool collision with Exeter Chiefs a game with qualification on the line - however Richie Murphy's side will get nothing easy as they head into Leicester Tigers' den for their round three encounter.
It is going to take the province's best performance of the season to pull off an upset against a Leicester outfit that is fourth in the Premiership. Ulster, in comparison, are ninth in the URC.
READ MORE:Gutsy Ulster hold their nerve away to Connacht to end five-game losing streak
READ MORE: URC HALF-WAY REPORT, the good, the bad and the ugly - Ulster
The Tigers have former Leinster head coach Michael Cheika in their hot-seat and can count on top Test stars such as South Africa's Handre Pollard and Argentina captain Julian Montoya in their ranks, as well as Welsh breakdown menace Tommy Reffell and stylish England full-back Freddie Steward.
They will be a tough nut to crack, especially as they pursue Toulouse and Bordeaux in the Pool 1 table. Ulster have won seven and lost four of the previous 11 head to heads between the two clubs - including twice at Welford Road, in 2014 and 2019 - but it remains to be seen if Ulster are at that kind of level as yet as Murphy continues his rebuild.
"We're going there and nobody probably gives us a chance," said Murphy. "If we want to stay in the competition we need to win our last two games.
"Leicester is a very difficult place to go. They have a massive pack and set piece, and their big back three are all very talented in the air. There is a massive test coming in regards to that but we are going there with confidence. We want to try and put our game out in front of them and see where we get to."
Where is the game on?
The game takes place at Mattioli Woods Welford Park Stadium
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What time is kick-off?
The match kicks off at 8pm on Saturday
What TV channel is it on?
Live on Premier Sports 2
Betting Odds
Leicester Tigers 1/9 to win, Ulster 7/1 to win; draw 33/1
Team News
Ulster are boosted by the return of skipper Iain Henderson, whose inclusion is one of six changes to the side from the impressive win at Connacht when an understrength side beat the fancied westerners, with several young players to the fore.
Henderson was unavailable due to injury over the festive period. He comes in for Kieran Treadwell and partners Cormac Izuchukwu.
The influential back rower David McCann is also available and will be at No.8, with James McNabney hoping to continue an eye-catching run as he moves to the blindside flanker role.
John Cooney is fit again after injury but is on the bench, with Nathan Doak holding down the No.9 jersey. Doak is partnered by Aidan Morgan. Ethan McIlroy is in at full-back.
Ulster: Ethan McIlroy, Werner Kok, Ben Carson, Jude Postlethwaite, Zac Ward, Aidan Morgan, Nathan Doak; Andrew Warwick, John Andrew, Scott Wilson, Iain Henderson (capt), Cormac Izuchukwu, James McNabney, Nick Timoney, David McCann.
Replacements: James McCormick, Eric O’Sullivan, Corrie Barrett, Kieran Treadwell, Harry Sheridan, John Cooney, Jack Murphy, Rory Telfer.
Leicester Tigers: Steward, Bassett, Perese, Kata, Hassell-Collins, Pollard, Van Poortvliet; Smith, Montoya (capt), Heyes, Henderson, Holloway, Carnduff, Reffell, Cracknell.
Replacements: Clare, Whitcombe, Cole, Wells, Ilione, Youngs, Shillcock, Woodward.
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