Leicester Tigers director of rugby Richard Cockerill knows one person will be key to Newcastle's hopes of keeping Leicester Tigers out of the LV= Cup semi-finals at Welford Road today.

Falcons' fly-half Jimmy Gopperth is the pivotal figure in his side's game plan and has been since joining the club from Auckland Blues in 2009.

With 60 appearances for the club and 617 points under his belt, Cockerill and Leicester know that, if they can nullify the Kiwi's influence on the game, Tigers will be in with a better chance of making their first Anglo-Welsh semi-final since 2007-08.

"Jimmy Gopperth is huge for them and everything they do comes through him," said Cockerill.

"His goal-kicking and field position is vital for them.

"Without him firing, they are not the same side and he will punish us if we let him play.

"He has been playing at full-back for them in this competition with a young lad, Joel Hodgson, in at fly-half but, wherever he plays, we will be looking out for him."

Leicester will start the game as favourites and know that any sort of win will see them top Pool Two following last weekend's memorable win over Harlequins at The Stoop.

But Newcastle can also make the semi-finals of a competition in which they finished runners-up last season as long as both Gloucester and the Llanelli Scarlets lose their respective matches in Pool Three.

And with today's visitors having begun the reign of new director of rugby Gary Gold with an impressive 37-7 win over Sale Sharks last weekend, this could be a tastier encounter than many might be predicting. "They are bringing a good side and, if they win, they could go on to reach a semi-final," said Cockerill.

"Their win over Sale last week was a huge result for them and they will want to come here, get a win and build momentum for their league campaign.

"We just have to concentrate on what we want to do. We played well last week and I was pleased with what we did.

"If we win, we are in a semi-final of a cup competition. It's as simple as that."

The sides which top the four pools will go straight into the semi-finals with the top-ranked (on points) side hosting the fourth-ranked side, and second hosting third.

The permutations of how that will pan out are complicated but Bath, Northampton and the Llanelli Scarlets are all favourites to make progress to the last four.

Tigers can still qualify for the semi-finals if they lose but second-placed London Irish must also lose at home to Gloucester for that to happen.

Leicester have won their last five matches against Newcastle and the Falcons have won only one of their last 20 visits to Welford Road in 35-years.