Leicester Tigers face Exeter Chiefs tonight with the success of their front row firmly in the hands of "some old bloke with sheep and a trailer".

With frontline tight-head props Martin Castrogiovanni and Dan Cole going head-to-head for their countries this afternoon, director of rugby Richard Cockerill has handed part-time rugby player and part-time cattle farmer Julian White his third start of the season.

The former England and British & Irish Lion turns 39 in three months' but Cockerill says he is still fit, more than capable of playing at the top level and keen to end his playing days this season on a high.

"We will miss Dan and Castro but some bloke turned up with some sheep and a trailer this week and said he would play for us!" said Cockerill.

"Whitey has been training hard in between his farming duties recently and he is in good nick.

"He is 38 and coming to the end of his career and he is desperate to play for us and finish on a good note.

"He has been very good for the club and the club has been very good to him.

"We have looked after him very well.

"We have managed that transition from player to farming and then doing both."

White will front-up the forwards who won Tigers the corresponding fixture last season.

Alesana Tuilagi scored early on and a try in each half by Jordan Crane helped Leicester to pull away from a 15-15 half-time tie to win 22-15.

It was the first of five successive league wins to kick-start 2011 and gave them the impetus to book another place in the Aviva Premiership grand final.

Against Exeter's very physical approach to the game, Tigers will need another big performance up front if they are to maintain their place in the top four and put further pressure on front-runners Harlequins and Saracens.

Tigers will make the trip as the form team in the competition with 24 points out of a last 30 available but Rob Baxter's side will be looking to round off a first league double over their opponents.

The Chiefs won the opening game of the Aviva Premiership season 30-28 at Welford Road and, although Leicester were short of World Cup stars then, they have been handed a big boost this time with England's Manu Tuilagi and Toby Flood both available in an attempt to prove their fitness.

Tigers' back line looks strong and, if they can get the lion's share of possession, they should be favourites to come back with a result.

At a sold-out Sandy Park, however, that is easier said than done.