Leicester Tigers v Leeds Carnegie: Leeds determined to gain from the pain of early setbacks

Back returns to Welford Road confident his bottom-of-the-league team can claim their first win of the season and crank up the pressure on the misfiring champions.

Leicester Tigers have won only once themselves in a difficult start to their title defence, and while Back acknowledges the heat will be intensifying on his opposite number Richard Cockerill, he is fully aware his side need to start delivering as well.

"The players are feeling the pain at the moment, they don't believe they've shown where they are as a group," said Back, whose side are three points adrift at the foot of the table after three straight defeats.

"The players are frustrated. With the opportunities we've created and haven't taken, you're going to be frustrated, but you'd be more frustrated if you weren't creating those opportunities.

"It needs a win, hopefully it will come Saturday, and that will be the catalyst we need to bring a belief and confidence in what we're trying to do."

What Leeds are trying to accomplish involves a more fluid offensive game plan, while retaining their defensive strength. Putting the two together is proving difficult with their four tries scored offset by nine conceded, but Back believes they will come good.

"Fundamentally the forwards have been pretty strong; in the backs we've played well but there's notable exceptions," said Back, who welcomes back Ceiron Thomas at fly-half in one of three changes to the side that lost against Saracens.

"We've had a few key guys who have had very little game time due to niggles, operations, returning from injury etc, and they're still to gel as a unit.

"Our first phase execution is 80 per cent, that's about your patterns, movements and relationships with players becoming autonomous, and at the moment we're still finding our way.

"I believe we have kicked on this season with the type of game we are playing. We just need to be more consistent with better execution and better decisions.

"That is the key, consistency over 80 minutes. We have let in some soft tries – the players are bitterly disappointed.

"Our league position is not a true reflection, the spirit is fantastic and belies where we are.

"Leicester away is exactly what we need at the moment and we have a steely determination to put things right."

Back forged his formidable playing career at Leicester and also took the first steps into coaching at Welford Road.

He knows better than most that a start that has seen them lose to fellow heavyweights Northampton and Wasps is not good enough.

"Leicester are finding themselves with only one win and in unfamiliar territory and under a lot of pressure," he said.

As well as Thomas's return after injury, full-back Leigh Hinton makes his first start with Michael Stephenson reverting to the wing in place of Semi Tadulala.

Rhys Oakley comes in for Kearnan Myall at blindside flanker while James Tincknell retains his place at outside centre. Steve Thompson continues at hooker in place of Andy Titterrell.

England internationals Dan Hipkiss and Dan Cole return to the Tigers team.

"Our attack has been pretty good in the opening three games, we just have to make sure our defence is better," said Tigers director of rugby Richard Cockerill.