The Premiership season picks up again after with the World Cup stars back in contention and all of the sides being boosted with their best players available.

Leicester Tigers need to climb up the table quickly and travel to face Sale Sharks on Friday, with victory the only real option given their poor start to the season.

Veteran hooker George Chuter will make his 250th club appearance, while there is also a milestone for Tom Croft who plays his 100th match for the Tigers.

The tigers have had centres Manu Tuilagi and Anthony Allen ruled out due to injury as their luckless season continues to add new challenges.

Director of rugby Richard Cockerill  said: "We're having a terrible run of luck, especially with Mathew Tait's groin injury and Billy Twelvetrees out with an ankle injury.

"But we knew we would need the whole squad to front up if we were going to push on this season. Matt Smith has been playing really well and Horacio Agulla came back from the World Cup and fitted right back in last week.

"We now have all the Test players back with us and we've been working hard to integrate them as quickly as possible."

In Friday's second clash Wasps take on Worcester Warriors, with England hooker Steve Thompson making his debut for the London side.

Thompson said he was looking forward to representing the club for the first time. "I can't wait to get out there and am delighted to get my first start because there is a lot of competition here for the number two shirt.

"I've thoroughly enjoyed my first few weeks with the club and I feel fresh and ready for action."

Dai Young added: "We know that Worcester are very strong at home and away wins are always difficult, but if we want to do well in this league we have got to start picking up results on the road."

We look at the Round Seven matches:

Friday, October 28:

Sale Sharks v Leicester Tigers
(Edgeley Park - 19.45)

The teams:

Sale: 15 Rob Miller, 14 Tom Brady, 13 Johnny Leota, 12 Sam Tuitupou (captain), 11 Mark Cueto, 10 Nick Macleod, 9 Dwayne Peel, 8 Richie Vernon, 7 David Seymour, 6 James Gaskell, 5 Kearnan Myall, 4 Fraser McKenzie, 3 Henry Thomas, 2 Marc Jones, 1 Alasdair Dickinson.
Replacements: 16 Joe Ward, 17 Vadim Cobilas, 18 Tony Buckley, 19 Mark Easter, 20 Andy Powell, 21 Will Cliff, 22 Luther Burrell, 23 Will Addison.

Leicester: 15 Geordan Murphy (captain), 14 Scott Hamilton, 13 Horacio Agulla, 12 Matt Smith, 11 Alesana Tuilagi, 10 Toby Flood, 9 Sam Harrison,8 Thomas Waldrom 7 Julian Salvi 6 Tom Croft 5 Geoff Parling 4 George Skivington 3 Dan Cole 2 George Chuter 1 Marcos Ayerza
Replacements: 16 Tom Youngs 17 Boris Stankovich 18 Martin Castrogiovanni 19 Steve Mafi 20 Ed Slater 21 James Grindal 22 Jeremy Staunton 23 Niall Morris.

Referee: Andrew Small

Worcester Warriors v London Wasps
(Sixways - 19.45)

The teams:

Worcester: 15 Errie Claassens, 14 Marcel Garvey, 13 Alex Grove, 12 Dale Rasmussen (captain), 11 Miles Benjamin, 10 Andy Goode, 9 Shaun Perry, 8 Chris Jones, 7 Jake Abbott, 6 Neil Best, 5 Craig Gillies, 4 James Percival, 3 Tevita Taumoepeau, 2 Ed Shervington, 1 Matt Mullan.
Replacements: 16 George Porter, 17 Aleki Lutui, 18 Oliver Tomaszczyk, 19 Adam Balding, 20 Sam Betty, 21 Ollie Frost, 22 Joe Carlisle, 23 Chris Pennell.

Wasps: 15 Hugo Southwell, 14 Tom Varndell, 13 Chris Bell, 12 Riki Flutey, 11 Christian Wade, 10 Nick Robinson, 9 Joe Simpson, 8 John Hart (captain), 7 Jonathan Poff, 6 Richard Birkett, 5 Marco Wentzel, 4 Ross Filipo, 3 Ben Broster, 2 Steve Thompson, 1 Tim Payne.
Replacements: 16 Rob Webber, 17 Zak Taulafo, 18 Jeremy Castex, 19 Joe Burton, 20 Matt Everard, 21 Nic Berry, 22 Ryan Davis, 23 Chris Mayor.

Referee: Greg Garner

Saturday, October 29

London Irish v Bath
(Madejski Stadium - Kick-off: 14.30)

The teams:

London Irish: tbc

Bath: tbc

Referee: David Rose

Harlequins v Exeter Chiefs
(Twickenham Stoop - Kick-off: 15.00)

The teams:

Harlequins: tbc

Exeter Chiefs: tbc

Referee: Sean Davey

Northampton Saints v Newcastle Falcons
(Franklin's Gardens - Kick-off: 15.00)

The teams:

Northampton: tbc

Newcastle: tbc

Referee: JP Doyle

Gloucester v Saracens
(Kingsholm - Kick-off: 17.45)

The teams:

Gloucester: tbc

Saracens: tbc

Referee: Tim Wigglesworth