Chris Ashton set to start as Leicester Tigers make five changes for second leg against Clermont

Chris Ashton is set to start his first European game for Leicester Tigers as they look to defend a 19-point aggregate lead in the second leg of their Champions Cup last-16 tie with Clermont-Auvergne.

Ashton is one of five changes to the Leicester starting line-up from 10-29 first leg victory in Clermont.

South African number eight Jasper Wiese drops to the bench as Ollie Chessum moves to the back row from lock.

Nic Dolly, Harry Wells and Eli Snyman come into the pack, with Matias Moroni replacing suspended centre Guy Porter.

Scrum-half Jack van Poortvliet keeps his place ahead of Ben Youngs.

Van Poortvliet will be up against 18-year-old talent Baptiste Jauneau, who makes his first start for Clermont.

Jauneau was the starting scrum-half for France‘s under-20 in all five of their age-grade Six Nations matches earlier this year.

There is no return to Welford Road for former Tigers second row Tomas Lavanini, who remains sidelined with a neck injury.

However Wesley Fofana and George Moala continue in the centres and number eight Fritz Lee is fit to start despite suffering a cut head in the collision that saw Porter sent off in the first leg.

The winners of the tie will play either Leinster or Connacht in the next round. Four-time winners Leinster took a 26-21 win from their trip to Galway in the first leg of that tie.

Speaking ahead of Saturday’s game, Borthwick said: “We are looking forward to being back at Mattioli Woods Welford Road, back at home with all of our supporters.”

“It has been more than a month since a game at home for most of these players, who have the privilege of representing the club this weekend, and we are looking forward to being back.”

Previewing the 2nd Leg, the Tigers Head Coach added: “The focus is on this weekend, not anything we have done before in this competition.”

“It is a new week, a new game and our objective – like every time we represent Leicester Tigers – is to play tough and deliver a performance our supporters can be proud of at full time.”