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While the brawn of the two packs will make for an entertaining, with international class running through, the brains will come from both 10s.

Suffice to say, they know each other well. Tigers' George Ford and Owen Farrell from Sarries.

The pair knocked about as young lads, brought together by their league-playing fathers. They came through England age-groups. They continue to battle it out in the Premiership.

Eddie Jones has found a way to accommodate both for England at international level, with Ford playing fly-half at 10 and Farrell operating at 12 - in a role that the Southern Hemisphere teams call 'second five-eighth'. Together they're stronger, more pivots, more options, more freedom, more flair.

Today though, it's one-on-one. It's about supremacy. The man who wins this battle most likely wins the game.

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Whisper it gently, but suddenly the seemingly invincible Saracens appear a little fallible. The metaphorical cloak has been whipped off perhaps?

Good news for their Premiership rivals not to mention the creme de la creme of Europe as well, who have had to watch the Londoners strut through the Champions Cup in the past two seasons.

Seven defeats in a row in all competitions are a throwback to darker times, although some of that slump can be attributed to the loss to injury of key players Maro Itoje, Billy Vunipola, Schalk Burger and Michael Rhodes. Their absence has reduced the awesome power of the pack.

"We haven't been really unhappy with how we've been playing," director of rugby Mark McCall said after the Clermont defeat.

"There are good signs of us defending much better and attacking really well at times; but we have to be much more disciplined."

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Saracens' grip on European rugby is remarkably similar to that which Leicester Tigers enjoyed in the early part of the professional era.

Under Dean Richards, there was a fear factor about Welford Road, about gnarled forwards such as Neil Back, Martin Johnson and Graham Rowntree, and even chippy half-back Austin Healey.

All good things come to an end. However, while the Tigers are no longer guaranteed to have their name etched on silverware they are still there or thereabouts at business time.

This season has been mixed. Matt O'Connor's side have flirted with form but lost games. They are sixth currently, though could climb to fourth with victory.

Defeat by Munster in the Champions Cup is a sobering reminder they are no longer streets ahead of Europe's elite. However, O'Connor is looking at the positives.

"We did a lot of good things against Munster last weekend and, moving back into the Premiership over the next couple of weeks, that will put us in good stead," he said.

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Loosehead prop Logovi'i Mulipola returns to the Leicester line-up, the only change from the side that played against Munster in the Champions Cup.

Kyle Traynor moves to the bench where he is joined by Harry Wells, who comes in for Dom Barrow.

Saracens have Michael Rhodes among the replacements after injury, while Juan Figallo starts ahead of Vincent Koch.

Brad Barritt remains sidelined with a head injury.

Leicester: Tait; Thompstone, Tuilagi, Toomua, May; Ford, B Youngs; Mulipola, T Youngs (captain), Cole, Fitzgerald, Kitchener, Mapapalangi, Williams, Kalafamoni.

Replacements: Polota-Nau, Traynor, Baumann, Wells, Hamilton, Harrison, Ford, Malouf.

Saracens: Goode; Maitland Bosch Lozowski Wyles; Farrell, Spencer; Vunipola, George, Figallo, Skelton, Kruis, Isiekwe, Clark, Wray.

Replacements: Tolofua, Barrington, Koch, Rhodes, Burger, Whiteley, Tompkins, Earle.

Referee: Matthew Carley.

Welcome to our Premiership rugby union coverage this afternoon, where two slightly off-colour big guns meet for pivotal points at this rather festive time.

Thanks for joining us, amid the huge variety on offer on this magical Christmas Eve day.

If it gets boring, I can always let you know what's going on in The Santa Clause, Beethoven's Christmas Adventure or the exceptional Torbruk.

Let's get some team news.

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Nostrils flared, shoving, pushing, fending, rucking, mauling, maybe the odd expletive. Suddenly! Someone comes up with it. Tucked under their arm and they're off...

This could easily be the scene at your local supermarket as desperate shoppers tussle for the last turkey crown or £10 bottle of champagne.

However, that's not our bag today. Our festive fare is Premiership rugby union from Welford Road.

Escape those scrums, and enjoy some of these.

It's Leicester's old-school East Midlands grit against the new kings of the castle Saracens.