ANDREW Davies and Seb Hines return to Middlesbrough's starting line-up for today's home game with Leicester City.

The pair, who both missed the club's last game, a 2-1 win over Watford, will line up together at the heart of the defence.

That should mean Rhys Williams pushing back into the midfield, although the Australian could feature as part of a back five.

Davies and Hines replace Jonathan Grounds and Barry Robson, with Richie Smallwood returning to the starting line-up in place of Nicky Bailey.

Leicester include two former Boro players in their starting XI in the shape of Ayegbeni Yakubu and Kyle Naughton.

MIDDLESBROUGH (4-4-2): Smith; McMahon, Davies, Hines, Bennett; Smallwood, R Williams, Arca, Taylor; McDonald, Emnes.

Subs: Coyne (gk), McManus, Grounds, Tavares, Kink, Halliday, Zemmama.

LEICESTER (4-3-3): Weale; Naughton, Bamba, Bruma, van Aanholt; Gallagher, Oakley, Wellens; Vassell, Yakubu, Kamara.

Subs: Ricardo (gk), Vitor, King, Dyer, Abe, Waghorn, Howard.