Former Saracens star Tony Diprose believes his old club can take advantage of a weakened Leicester Tigers side tomorrow (Saturday) and smash their torrid Welford Road hoodoo.

The Men in Black have not won at the reigning Premiership champions' inner-city stronghold in 30 previous visits since 1964. However, Tigers boss Marcelo Loffreda is without Six Nations servants Tom Croft, George Chuter, Ben Kay and Geordan Murphy while Lewis Moody, James Hamilton, Marco Wentzel and Aaron Mauger are injured.

In contrast, Saracens have no fresh injury concerns and welcome centre Andy Farrell back for the first time since he suffered a reoccurrence of a rib problem at Newcastle Falcons last month.

And Diprose, who spend a decade with the Men in Black reckons the time could be now for Alan Gaffney's men to raid the Tigers citadel.

The ten time capped former England back row certainly knows what it takes to get the better of Leicester on their own patch. Well almost.

Diprose was in the team that earned Sarries a 10-10 draw at Welford Road in April 1998, a point that briefly took them to the Premiership summit .

That day, Diprose was playing at open-side flanker alongside Tony Rocque and Ben Sturnham in the back row as Saracens faced a Tigers side containing the likes of Mike Horak, Will Greenwood, Austin Healey, Joel Stransky, Martin Johnson, Neil Back and a certain Paul Gustard.

Despite missing talisman Francois Pienaar, Richard Hill and half-backs Kyran Bracken and Michael Lynagh, Sarries still managed to claw back a 10-0 deficit through Andy Lee's converted try and a Gavin Johnson penalty.

They should have won it. Johnson missed three penalties while Diprose spilled the ball with the line at his mercy and delivered a wayward pass to scrum half Mark Olsen with the Tigers all at sea.

"Leicester were not having the greatest of seasons and we could have won it that day," recalled Diprose, now assistant academy manager at Harlequins. "We were slightly hit by injuries. I remember looking around and not seeing my usual colleagues and friends. I can still see Andy Lee scuttling over for a try late on to level things up."

Diprose, who left Sarries for Quins in 2001 before retiring in 2006, says Leicester's vociferous fans add an extra dimension to their side's abrasive home displays, something Sarries must match if they are to end their Welford woe.

"Winning at Leicester is something to aspire to as it's such a massive challenge," added the 35-year-old. "They have a formidable home record, are a very strong side and have been one of the top three teams in the country as long as I've been around.

"It's not just Saracens that find it hard to win at Welford Road - it's the same for a lot of the Premiership teams. Leicester have the biggest rugby crowd in the country and it always seems to act as their 16th man as Leicester sometimes don't show the same type of aggression and physicality away from home."

Despite missing several key players Diprose warns Leicester will still provide Sarries with one of their stiffest challenges of the season.

"If Martin Johnson and Neil Back were missing for Leicester when I played against them you would always see that as a positive because of how good they were," he commented. "Leicester have a few players unavailable for Saturday and Saracens have an opportunity.

"They have to front up and match the Leicester side who will be physical and direct. Welford Road is a very tough place to go to and win, so you have got to be at your best to achieve that."

Diprose has been impressed with Saracens under Alan Gaffney's stewardship although he is unsure whether they have the firepower to stop a Wales-dominated Ospreys side progressing in both the EDF Energy and Heineken cups.

"Saracens have had a couple of lean weeks, partially due to injuries but at one point this season were playing the best rugby in the country. Last season was a bit disappointing as I expected them to reach the final the European Challenge Cup.

"But they've put themselves in another good position this year, although playing the Ospreys twice is a tough ask."

Integral to Sarries' plundering a rare win at Tigers tomorrow are club stalwarts Richard Hill and Kris Chesney. Hill returns to the side after a two game absence while fellow flanker Chesney will become the outright Premiership appearance leader with 194, 20 more than Diprose racked up in a 15 year career.

"That just shows what a good player Ches is and what he has done for the side over the years," said Diprose. "Plenty of coaches have come and gone at Saracens but they have all recognised the qualities he brings to the table, including that physicality, 110 per cent commitment and a fair bit of knowledge."

Diprose also rates Hill, his old British Lions team-mate who will retire at the end of the season.

"I had lunch with him last week and he realises his body has given up at this stage. However, he is still a big player for Saracens and a lot of opposing teams would rather they did not see him in the Sarries side."

Saracens: Scarbrough, Haughton, Leonelli, Farrell, Ratuvou, Jackson, de Kock (cpt); Lloyd, Kyriacou, Johnston, Jack, Vyvyan, Chesney, Hill, Skirving.

Replacements: Cairns, Visagie, Ryder, Barrell, Rauluni, Powell, Russell.