Next test awaits for Goode's Holy Grail

Andy Goode: Testing himself against the best

Leicester fly-half Andy Goode is ready to restate his case for an England call-up when he goes head-to-head with James Hook in Saturday's EDF Energy Cup final.

Goode's last cap was in November 2006, since then he has been overtaken in the England pecking order by the likes of Danny Cipriani, Toby Flood and Shane Geraghty.

But Leicester's Director of Rugby Marcelo Loffreda has tipped his pivot for a place on England's June tour to New Zealand after he outshone Cipriani in the Tigers' semi-final victory over Wasps.

On Saturday, Goode faces Wales' own fly-half prodigy and he is ready for the challenge as Leicester attempt a successful defence of their trophy against the under-pressure Ospreys.

"James Hook is a fantastic player who has developed so well over the last couple of years," Goode said.

"He was an integral part of the Welsh Grand-Slam winning side and he and Danny Cipriani are probably the top two fly-halves in Europe at the minute.

"It's good to test yourself against those guys and this is a massive occasion at Twickenham, something that gets the hairs on the back of your neck rising.

"We need to keep Hook quiet as one of their main attacking threats alongside Justin Marshall at half-back. They're an experienced attacking side so it will be a good test.

"We won the trophy last year and it is a major priority for us. It was the first trophy we won last year and it was a target to defend it."

Leicester beat the Ospreys 45-31 in a thrilling final last season having stormed into a 28-9 half-time lead, and went on to complete their first ever league and cup double, which was a perfect send-off for former boss Pat Howard.

Now under the tutelage of Loffreda, things have not run quite so smoothly this season, but the Tigers are still in the hunt for the Guinness Premiership title.

"It is important to build on success by winning a trophy this season," Goode added.

While Leicester are still chasing a potential double, the Ospreys have 80 minutes to save their season.

Just a week ago the campaign promised so much but last Sunday the rug was pulled from under them with a surprise defeat to Saracens in the quarter-finals of the Heineken Cup.

Coach Lyn Jones has reacted by changing half his pack after the English club dominated the forward exchanges, with Wales internationals Duncan Jones, Huw Bennett, Ian Gough and Jonathan Thomas all dropping to the bench.

In the backs, the Ospreys are without Wales centre Gavin Henson, who suffered minor ankle ligament damage at Vicarage Road, but the 22-man squad still includes twelve players who helped Wales win the Grand Slam.

"Saturday is another landmark occasion in the short history of the Ospreys," said Jones.

"It's going to be a real test of our physical and mental stamina following on from the boys' Six Nations success and then the disappointment of last weekend.

"Leicester are a very wise side who have been there and done it many times over the last eleven years. We regard them as one of the big four in Europe.

"But memories of last year will help drive us on to the goal of becoming the first Welsh side to win the EDF Energy Cup."

With so much now at stake for the Welsh glamour region, Leicester are wary of the wounded Ospreys.

"They will have had a rocket off the coach and they'll be massively disappointed with the defeat to Saracens," said Goode.

"Their defeat last week will re-focus them and we know it will be a massive challenge."