Leicester Tigers director of rugby Richard Cockerill has told his players that they must improve if they are to get the most from their upcoming tough run.

The Aviva Premiership champions, who cruised past Newcastle Falcons 31-6 on Saturday, begin their fixtures with a trip to Exeter Chiefs on Sunday.

The Tigers then host title rivals Northampton Saints before undergoing a double header in the Heineken Cup, and Cockerill is happy to have given the vast majority of his players a run-out so far this season.

"We got Ben Youngs and Toby Flood back on the field, Graham Kitchener had his first game back, we brought in Jamie Gibson and Blaine Scully, and there was more time on the field for guys like Boris Stankovich and Neil Briggs," Cockerill told the club's official website.

"We could have played a bit better but we'll take the five points and now everybody has played some rugby. We know we have a tough run coming up and we have to get better."

Tigers face Exeter Chiefs at Sandy Park on Sunday.