The South African fly-half is yet to play in the Heineken Champions Cup for Leicester, but could feature at ASM Clermont Auvergne in Round 3 on January 13 as they look to make it three wins from three in Pool B.

Pollard comes in as the solitary change made by head coach Richard Wigglesworth following last Saturday’s 28-13 win over Gloucester Rugby, replacing Freddie Burns. Lock Calum Green could make his 100th appearance for Leicester from the bench.

Meanwhile, Sale, who sit one place – and three points - behind Leicester in Heineken Champions Cup Pool B, welcome back centre Manu Tuilagi.

The England international suffered an injury in their Heineken Champions Cup win over Ulster Rugby (39-0) earlier this month but is back to start against his former club.

Sam James joins Tuilagi in midfield, with prop Simon McIntyre, hooker Akker Van Der Merwe and flanker Tom Curry coming in as the other changes from last Friday’s 20-14 defeat at Newcastle Falcons.

Scrum-half Joe Simpson is on the bench in the final game of his career, which has seen him score 16 tries in 71 games in EPCR competitions.

Elsewhere on Friday, Edinburgh Rugby, who are fifth in Heineken Champions Cup Pool A, welcome Glasgow Warriors in the United Rugby Championship.

In what is the second leg of the historic 1872 Cup between the two Scottish regions, Edinburgh see a quartet of Scotland internationals return as they look to bounce back from a 16-10 defeat at Glasgow a week ago.

Lock Sam Skinner, flanker Luke Crosbie, fly-half Blair Kinghorn and centre Mark Bennett are all back in the starting XV, with fit-again wing Wes Goosen, prop Boan Venter and scrum-half Henry Pyrgos also recalled.

There is also an all-Heineken Champions Cup clash in the TOP 14 on Friday as Union Bordeaux-Bègles travel to Montpellier Hérault Rugby – ninth in Pool A and Pool B respectively.

Handrè Pollard makes his first start for Leicester Tigers as they visit fellow Heineken Champions Cup outfit Sale Sharks in the Gallagher Premiership on Friday night.