■By GARY FITZGERALD

JAMES Thompson claims Leicester Tigers are ready to raise the noise and ramp up the growl too as they target a big pre-Christmas period of domestic and European action.
The forward from New Zealand feels the momentum is firmly on the side of the Welford Road outfit having climbed their way to the top of the Premiership tree.
Geoff Parling’s men are certainly looking in mean and menacing title challenging mood having shrugged off an opening weekend loss to Saracens to notch up a four-match winning streak.
They are putting their pre-season ambitions ...