Leicester welcome back winger Tom Varndell after a whirlwind five weeks during which the 20 year-old has played for England Sevens in the Commonwealth Games and in IRB Sevens Series tournaments in Hong Kong and Singapore.

Howard says Varndell will start a game that is vital to his side's chances of claiming a top-four finish and club vice captain Daryl Gibson is back on the bench.

All Black centre Gibson has not played for the first team since suffering a dislocated shoulder in the defeat at Bristol in December.
Howard has named a squad of 22 rather than a starting XV for his side's first game since the Heineken Cup quarter-final defeat against Bath and explained his decision to leave out Ellis.

Scott Bemand is set to wear the No 9 shirt in his absence and Howard said: "Harry's been dealing with a shin problem for three or four months and that's affected his form.

"We manage our players as well as we can and at times we have to rest players.

"Scott Bemand played very well against Leeds and he has got his shot."

Gibson proved he is on the mend when he came on for the Tigers A team against Bristol United last week and Howard said: "Daryl won't start.

"He did well against Bristol. He took some collisions on that shoulder and got more confidence. Hopefully we will see him on the field at some stage."

Varndell will start the game and Howard says the speedster will have learned a lot from his experiences with England Sevens.
Howard said: "He will have got an awareness of space and the ability to finish from playing in the Sevens.

"Defensively, your one-on-one skills are better in Sevens, but you can be more passive in defence. It's a hard adjustment to make and I don't expect it to be seamless. "Hopefully it won't take long to adjust back."

Howard's decision to put Varndell straight back into the starting line up is proof Tigers will go on the attack at Franklin's Gardens after the disappointing nature of the defeat against Bath.

Howard said: "We did some soul searching.

"It's hard after every defeat. You ask yourselves questions as players and coaches and critics tell you what you should do.

"You have to take it with a grain of salt and move on.

"We are a good side. It's not as if we are conceding five tries in every game. It's just that we have lost our ambition to finish teams off.

"We've got to deal with the pressure of playing big games. You're not going to win big games if you go into your shell.

"Occasionally you have to chance your arm and take some risks. We've got to get back out there, play with some enthusiasm and enjoy ourselves.

"Northampton have been having a go and that's been rewarded.

Northampton have enjoyed a revival in recent weeks. They have suffered only one defeat in the Guinness Premiership this year and have won seven of their eight games at home.

All Black maestro Carlos Spencer has been instrumental in their resurgence, but Howard says Northampton have dangerous players all over the pitch.

He said: "Northampton have got some confidence and are playing with some ambition.

"The back three are playing well together and Pat Barnard has made a difference up front and Damien Browne has been winning big collisions.

"At the start off the season a lot of people were tipping Northampton to be up there at the top. They have gelled together well in the second half of the season."

Tigers squad: J White, M Holford, G Rowntree, J Buckland, G Chuter, B Kay, L Deacon, L Cullen, J Hamilton, L Moody, S Jennings, M Corry, S Bemand, A Healey, A Goode, O Smith, D Gibson, D Hipkiss, T Varndell, Alex Tuilagi, G Murphy, S Vesty.