Lord will start tomorrow's second and last home game in this year's EDF Energy Cup wearing the No 4 shirt among many players hoping to stake their claim on a starting place for the following weekend's Heineken Cup game against Parma.

The lock said: "It's great to be back out there. We have all been given an opportunity against Leicester and you cannot ask for much more than that.

"It is important for us to start off December on the right note and for some of us to stake claims for jerseys.

"It is a great privilege to be captain especially for a club like this. Not much will change about the way I play, but I may have to say a little bit more! Everyone out there knows what they are there for and there are a few players there who can help me too. I am really excited."

Head coach Paul Grayson said Lordy was the natural choice to lead this week's team in the absence of Bruce Reihana. Darren Fox and David Quinlan.

"When we looked down the teamsheet, Lordy was the first name that jumped off the page as one of the guys who had enough experience. He has been pretty hurt that he has not being playing for a while and he embodies all the values we talk about, such as playing for the shirt. He deserves to wear the armband."

Seamus Mallon also returns to the starting line-up for tomorrow's 3pm kick-off following one start and one replacement appearance since his year-long recovery from a serious knee injury.

"I have put the injury behind me now and have got a good few games under my belt. I have got my confidence back in my knee now."

Tomorrow's game comes after two tough defeats in the Guinness Premiership to Saracens then London Irish. Mallon was adamant team spirit was still as good as ever.

"Everyone is still smiling. We are due a win now! We have got to get a win and Saturday's game is the perfect opportunity to get the crowd cheering and smiling again.

"We have got to keep building. It's not going to happen overnight. The coaches are saying, 'Keep the faith, keep training hard and the results will change'. With this game, we can hopefully get ourselves back to the way we were last year."

Mallon concluded: "We have got a few injuries and we have been unlucky, but we have got to bounce back. These players will come back again and they will play again. We have got to be positive as it gives perfect opportunities for other people to play and to give our squad experience throughout."