Steward set for 100th Premiership start as Bristol and Leicester shuffle their line-ups

Freddie Steward will make his 100th Premiership start for Leicester Tigers when they visit Bristol Bears at Ashton Gate on Friday 30 October, according to the BBC. The full-back has been a fixture in the Leicester side for years, and the milestone is a reminder of how steady he has been.

Both teams have named starting line-ups with three changes each. Leicester's are all in the backs, the players who mostly run, pass and kick. Tom Whiteley, Ollie Hassell-Collins and Orlando Bailey come into the starting XV. Jack van Poortvliet, Gabriel Hamer-Webb and Will Wand drop to the bench, the group of replacements who can come on later in the match.

Bristol's changes are up front and in the back row. Gabriel Oghre and George Kloska return to the front row, the three forwards who pack down in the scrum, alongside Ellis Genge. Luka Ivanishvili comes back in at number eight, the forward who sits at the back of the scrum and controls the ball when it emerges. Bristol Bears have confirmed their team news on their own website.

The table gives the match some weight. Bristol are third and Leicester second in the Premiership ahead of kick-off. Leicester come into the game after a run of wins, and they have been chasing another strong home record. Bristol will be looking to make a home advantage count on their own ground.

There is a special touch for the home crowd too. Bristol will wear letters rather than numbers on their shirts to mark Legends Night, a chance to honour players from the club's past. The shirts are a visual reminder that the club's history is part of the evening, even as the current squads take to the pitch.

The two clubs last met at Ashton Gate in a tight contest, and rugby fans will be hoping this one is just as close. Both sides are trying to keep pace near the top of the table, so every scrum, lineout and breakdown battle could matter. Kick-off is on Friday evening, and the new faces on both benches could be decisive if the game is still in the balance late on.