Danny Cipriani might be considered the best fly-half in England, but it could be argued that he is no longer even seen as No.1 at his own club after director of rugby Ian McGeechan opted to continue with Dave Walder in the No.10 jersey for Wasps crunch visit tio Leicester.

In three changes from last weekend’s EDF Energy Cup Semi Final, Wasps welcome back second row Simon Shaw - a late withdrawal last Saturday - and flanker Tom Rees, who returns for his first club match since the start of the Six Nations, having picked up a knee injury in England’s opener against Wales in February.

Wasps are without club captain Lawrence Dallaglio, who has been suspended by the club pending a disciplinary hearing next week, and fellow international back rower Joe Worsley is also absent from the 22 due to injury.

In Dallaglio’s absence, former French captain Raphael Ibanez is awarded the captain’s armband.

In a back line shuffle, Josh Lewsey moves to the wing in place of David Doherty and Danny Cipriani shifts to full back, Dave Walder coming in at fly half. Rees and Shaw replace Dallaglio and Skivington, the latter moving to the bench.

Wasps’ league form has seen them lose just once in their past nine games in the Guinness Premiership, that loss coming at Gloucester in January, but Head Coach Shaun Edwards is very aware of the magnitude of the task facing his team on Saturday.

“We are under no illusions about the size of the challenge we face at Leicester, but we have gone about our preparations this week with a quiet determination to give a better account of ourselves than we did last weekend, when we didn’t play to our potential,” said Edwards.

“It’s good to have Tom Rees back, and we will all be hoping he gets an injury free run to the end of the season, and in Raphael Ibanez we have a captain who will lead by example and commands the ultimate respect from all his team-mates.

“Danny Cipriani was outstanding in attack from fly half last week, but we have moved him to full back for this game as we wanted more experience in the back three.”

London Wasps
15. Danny Cipriani
14. Paul Sackey
13. Fraser Waters
12. Riki Flutey
11. Josh Lewsey
10. Dave Walder
9. Eoin Reddan
1. Tim Payne
2. Raphael Ibanez (C)
3. Phil Vickery
4. Simon Shaw
5. Tom Palmer
6. James Haskell
7. Tom Rees
8. John Hart

Replacements
16. James Buckland
17. Pat Barnard
18. Tom French
19. George Skivington
20. Mark McMillan
21. Dominic Waldouck
22. Rob Webber