Oghre and Kloska return from injury as Bristol host Leicester in top-of-table Friday clash

Gabriel Oghre and George Kloska return to the Bristol Bears starting XV for their Remembrance fixture against Leicester Tigers at Ashton Gate on Friday night, with head coach Pat Lam naming a near-unchanged side that carries genuine top-of-table stakes into the weekend.

Both players missed Bristol’s 20-7 win over Exeter Chiefs last weekend after picking up injuries in the defeat to Saracens — the only loss the Bears have suffered in the Gallagher Premiership this season. Oghre slots back in at hooker in place of Tomas Gwilliam, while Kloska returns at tighthead prop to replace Lovejoy Chawatama.

The only other change from the Exeter victory sees Georgian No.8 Luka Ivanishvili come in for Benjamin Grondona, while back rower Steven Luatua keeps his place despite taking a heavy blow to the mouth against the Chiefs. Lam confirmed Luatua’s availability at his midweek media briefing.

England centre Benhard Janse van Rensburg remains sidelined after suffering two significant concussions this year and is not expected to return until Bristol’s Premiership trip to Bath in December. He heads a lengthy injury list that also includes Max Lahiff, Harry Thacker, Ethan Staddon, Viliame Mata, Khalik Kareem, Max Clark, Kalaveti Ravouvou, Noah Heward, and Josh Carrington.

Leicester arrive at Ashton Gate in strong form, having beaten reigning Premiership champions Northampton Saints 28-7 in the East Midlands derby last weekend. Lam acknowledged the scale of the challenge while pointing to the prize on offer for the winner.

“We’ve given ourselves an opportunity. Both clubs will be going all out for a win because the winner finishes Friday night at the top of the table,” Lam said. “It’s a great reward for the players, but saying that Leicester were outstanding last week as well, we understand the challenge that we face against them. So it’s going to be a great game.”

Bristol Bears XV: Tom Jordan; Louis Rees-Zammit, Matias Moroni, James Williams, Gabriel Ibitoye; AJ MacGinty, Harry Randall; Ellis Genge, Gabriel Oghre, George Kloska, Pedro Rubiolo, Joe Batley, Steven Luatua, Fitz Harding (c), Luka Ivanishvili.

Replacements: Tomas Gwilliam, Jake Woolmore, Lovejoy Chawatama, Josh Caulfield, Joe Owen, Kieran Marmion, Jack Bates, Ben Grondona.