Kay hopes Tigers fans get behind their team

Leicester lock Ben Kay feels home support can help his side in their bid to reach the end-of-season play-offs.

Two of the Tigers' last three games of the season are at home, starting with Saturday's game with Bristol.

Kay told BBC Radio Leicester: "After almost 10 years here it still gives me huge pride to run out at Welford Road.

"We know about the lift the fans can give our guys and the pressure they can put on the opposition so we need that 16th man on Saturday."

Bristol are ninth in the Guinness Premiership table but Kay is expecting a tough test.

"They have got a lot of old heads in their team who will not be scared of coming here, particularly on the back of our last couple of performances," Kay explained.

"We are backed into a bit of a corner but sometimes that brings the best out of us."

Leicester coach Marcelo Loffreda is also ready for a fight, adding: "It will be a very hard game.

"Bristol have a very strong pack of forwards and how that battle goes could decide the game.

"We will prepare with the same mentality we played in the second half against Bath."

The Tigers were beaten 26-12 by Bath on Tuesday night but were much-improved after the interval.

Leicester lie sixth in the table with three matches to go, and are two points adrift of Wasps who have a game in hand.

As well as facing Bristol, Loffreda's side have to visit Newcastle then host Harlequins in their other fixtures.