Leicester spring a few surprises

Leicester captain Martin Johnson believes the smallest details will swing tomorrow's European Cup semi-final against Llanelli. The two sides, the strongest by far in their respective countries, have met twice already this season, in the pool stages of the competition, and not a try was scored.

The provisional starting line-ups see Llanelli returning to full strength - providing all their injury concerns clear up - while Leicester, the reigning champions, have sprung a few surprises.

Ollie Smith and Harry Ellis, both only 19, were included by director of rugby Dean Richards to play at outside centre and scrum-half respectively, forcing last year's two-try figure in the final, Leon Lloyd, onto the bench.

For Leicester it is about prizing open the opportunities and edging the crucial battles over the 80 minutes. If they can win the individual contests, Johnson believes victory and a place in the Cardiff final will be assured.

"We've seen how they can play and they've seen how we want to play," Johnson said. "Both teams might change that a bit but I'd be surprised if they changed it completely, for the whole game.

"At some point they're going to run their big runners at us and we've got to stop them, and likewise us to them." The England and Lions skipper added: "It's the little things. Whoever wins the tackle contest I think will win the game in the end. It's quite a simple game, as long as nothing spectacular happens and someone gets an interception and goes 95 yards, I think pressure and territory will count.

"They've got a very good kicking game and they play the game in your half as much as they can. It's a very effective way of playing and we'll try and do the same to them. We'll try and go wide on them and score tries. There might not be too many surprises, it's how you do it (the basics) that will win you the game more than what you do."

There was a definite air of tactical jousting as the teams were announced, with both coaches still at liberty to make alterations. For Jenkins they could well be enforced, with concerns over four players - Neil Boobyer, Leigh Davies, Salesi Finau and Wayne Proctor - heading into the weekend.

However, given the previous tryless encounters (which ended with one victory apiece) Leicester have left their options wide open, with three scrum-halves in the squad and an extremely versatile set of backs, among them Geordan Murphy.

LEICESTER: T Stimpson; G Murphy, O Smith, R Kafer, F Tuilagi; A Healey, H Ellis; G Rowntree, D West, D Garforth, M Johnson, B Kay, L Moody, N Back, M Corry. Replacements: P Freshwater, R Cockerill, L Deacon, A Balding, J Hamilton, L Lloyd, A Goode.

LLANELLI: G Evans; M Jones, N Boobyer, L Davies, F Finau; F Jones, G Easterby; M Madden, R McBryde, J Davies, V Cooper, C Wyatt, D Hodges, S Easterby, S Quinnell. Replacements: P Booth, M Thomas, L Gross, I Boobyer, D Peel, G Bowen, W Proctor.