IT is never a good time to play Leicester Tigers, according to assistant coach Ollie Smith as London Welsh travel to Welford Road in the Aviva Premiership today (3).

Relegated Welsh are still without a win in 19 league games and sit at the bottom of the table with just one bonus point.

Tigers are fifth, but have lost two of their last three matches, including a 22-6 defeat at Saracens on April 11.

However, Smith, a lifelong Leicester fan who spent eight years at Tigers as a player, believes his former club are still a dangerous outfit, especially as they are still chasing a place in next year’s European Rugby Champions Cup.

“It is never a good time to play them,” said the 32-yearold, who won the Heineken Cup with Leicester in 2002.

“They may not be quite gelling, or where they want to be, but they will click at some point.”

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Smith continued: “It is a bit of a balance.

“We have been relegated and there is very little pressure on us.

“Our focus is to go there and perform and come away with our heads held high knowing we have put in another competitive 80 minutes.

“To be realistic a win is unlikely, but there is no reason why we can’t go there and make people think that this team has got something about them.”

With Rob Lewis, Ben Pienaar and Chris Elder becoming the latest players to sign new deals with the Exiles on Thursday, Smith’s future is still undecided but he has made clear where his priorities lie after two seasons at the club.

“At the moment I am discussing my role with the club and taking it from there,” he said.

“I was very fortunate to have this opportunity and we had a fantastic season in getting promoted.

“This year has not gone to plan but as a coach developing, I am still young, and it is a fantastic level to work at.”