CIARAN Hearn slots into the outside centre role as London Irish bid to confirm their return to the Aviva Premiership tonight.

The Canadian international replaces the suspended Aseli Tikoirotuma as Yorkshire Carnegie arrive at Madejski Stadium (7.45pm).

Exiles are firm favourites to complete a memorable season with victory in the Greene King IPA Championship play-off final second leg, having won away from home 29-18 last Wednesday.

The remainder of the side stays the same, with double World Cup-winning All Black Ben Franks - man-of-the-match award in the first leg - joined in the the front row by ex-England international David Paice and Danny Hobbs-Awoyemi.

Sebastian De Chaves and Jebb Sinclair start at lock, with club Player of the Year Mike Coman, Blair Cowan and Ofisa Treviranus starting in the back row.

Antipodean duo Brendan McKibbin and James Marshall start at half back, with Fergus Mulchrone joining Hearn at centre.

London Irish's all-time top tryscorer Topsy Ojo starts on the wing, with Alex Lewington on the far side and Tommy Bell at full back.

Director of rugby Nick Kennedy said: “We are prepared for a very tough game against a well-coached Yorkshire side, who really pushed us all the way in the first leg last week.

“They have threats right across the playing field and we will have to be at our absolute best if we are to get the result that we want.

“We are really looking forward to the game and the lads are in good shape. As we saw first-hand last week, our bench will be hugely important during the game and everyone will need to be prepared for the challenge ahead.”

London Irish: Bell, Lewington, Hearn, Mulchrone, Ojo, Marshall, McKibbin; Hobbs-Awoyemi, Paice (c), Franks, De Chaves, Sinclair, Coman, Cowan, Treviranus.

Replacements: Porecki, Court, Hoskins, Robson, Narraway, Steele, Tonks.

Yorkshire Carnegie: Elder, Holmes, Lucock, Casson, Stegmann, Ford, Davies; Beech, Mayhew, Cusack, Smith, Myerscough, Stedman, Mayhew, Burrows (c).
Replacements: Graham, Boyce, Faletau, West, Beck, Green, Wright.