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Bristol Bears v Leicester Tigers
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Bristol Bears v Leicester Tigers team news: Freddie Steward set for 100th PREM start

Two of the Prem's high-flyers face off on Friday night, as Bristol Bears host Leicester Tigers at Ashton Gate.

Both sides have won three of their four Prem Rugby matches to this point, with both sides having also earned the scalp of defending champions Northampton Saints this campaign already.

Such is the similarities of both sides' starts to the new season, their sole defeats came at the hands of Saracens, with Leicester losing in round one at Welford Road and Bristol being defeated away from home in round three.

As the only Friday night match in round five, both sides have the opportunity to move to the top of the Prem table with victory.

Bristol Bears v Leicester Tigers

The headline in team selection for the Bears comes in the front row, with George Kloska and Gabriel Oghre returning to the starting XV, alongside former Tiger Ellis Genge.

Pedro Rubiolo and Joe Batley continue in the second row, while Luke Ivanishvili comes into the back row alongside Steven Luatua and captain Fitz Harding.

Harry Randall and AJ MacGinty form the half back pairing, with James Williams and Matias Moroni just outside in the centres, while Tom Jordan, Louis Rees-Zammit and Gabriel Ibitoye make up the back three.

For the Tigers, England full back Freddie Steward is named to start his 100th Prem match, in a back three that has one change from last weekend, alongside Adam Radwan and Ollie Hassell-Collins.

Solomone Kata is joined in the centres by Orlando Bailey, who replaces Will Wand in the middle of the field, outside of Billy Searle and Tom Whiteley, with Jack van Poortvliet dropping to the bench.

Archie van der Flier, Jamie Blamire and Joe Heyes make up an unchanged Leicester front row, supported by a lock pairing of Cameron Henderson and Ollie Chessum.

Aaron Wainwright, Finn Carnduff and Olly Cracknell complete an unchanged pack from the win over Northampton Saints last weekend.

Bristol Bears team news

Starting XV: 15 Tom Jordan, 14 Louis Rees-Zammit, 13 Matias Moroni, 12 James Williams, 11 Gabriel Ibitoye, 10 AJ MacGinty, 9 Harry Randall; 1 Ellis Genge, 2 Gabriel Oghre, 3 George Kloska, 4 Pedro Rubiolo, 5 Joe Batley, 6 Steven Luatua, 7 Fitz Harding (c), 8 Luka Ivanishvili.

Replacements: 16 Tomas Gwilliam, 17 Jake Woolmore, 18 Lovejoy Chawatama, 19 Josh Caulfield, 20 Joe Owen, 21 Kieran Marmion, 22 Jack Bates, 23 Ben Grondona.

Leicester Tigers team news

Starting XV: 15 Freddie Steward, 14 Adam Radwan, 13 Solomone Kata, 12 Orlando Bailey, 11 Ollie Hassell-Collins, 10 Billy Searle, 9 Tom Whiteley; 1 Archie Van der Flier, 2 Jamie Blamire, 3 Joe Heyes, 4 Cameron Henderson, 5 Ollie Chessum (c), 6 Aaron Wainwright, 7 Finn Carnduff, 8 Olly Cracknell.

Replacements: 16 Samiuela Moli, 17 Mako Vunipola, 18 Will Hurd, 19 Elliott Stooke, 20 Joaquin Moro, 21 Jack Van Poortvliet, 22 Will Wand, 23 Gabriel Hamer-Webb.

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