Northampton Saints v Saracens: Aviva Premiership preview
Last Updated: 24/04/15 4:25pm
The top two in the Aviva Premiership go head-to-head at the stadium:mk when Northampton take on Saracens on Saturday.
Saints will be looking to avoid a third straight loss with defeat at Exeter in their last outing following their thumping at the hands of Clermont in the Champions Cup the week before.
Courtney Lawes is back in one of three changes to the leaders’ starting XV with front row Salesi Ma’afu and full-back Ahsee Tuala also recalled.
Lee Dickson is on the bench but will make his 200th appearance for the club should he enter the fray at any point.
Meanwhile, Sarries make seven changes to the side narrowly beaten by Clermont in the Champions Cup semi-final last weekend.
David Strettle replaces Chris Ashton on the wing, Neil de Kock comes in at scrum-half in place of Richard Wigglesworth and Schalk Brits starts at hooker, one of five changes among the forwards.
The visitors had win their previous seven before defeat in France and can move within three points of Northampton with a win. However, Jim Mallinder’s side can secure top spot should they prevail.
Northampton Saints: 15 Ahsee Tuala, 14 Ken Pisi, 13 George Pisi, 12 Luther Burrell,11 Jamie Elliott, 10 Stephen Myler, 9 Kahn Fotuali’I; 1 Alex Corbisiero, 2 Dylan Hartley (c), 3 Salesi Ma’afu, 4 Courtney Lawes, 5 Christian Day, 6 Tom Wood, 7 Calum Clark, 8 Samu Manoa.
Replacements: 16 Mike Haywood, 17 Alex Waller, 18 Gareth Denman, 19 Sam Dickinson, 20 Jon Fisher, 21 Lee Dickson, 22 Tom Stephenson, 23 James Wilson.
Saracens: 15 Alex Goode, 14 David Strettle, 13 Marcelo Bosch, 12 Brad Barritt (c), 11 Chris Wyles, 10 Charlie Hodgson, 9 Neil de Kock; 1 Mako Vunipola, 2 Schalk Brits, 3 James Johnston, 4 George Kruis, 5 Maro Itoje, 6 Ernst Joubert, 7 Kelly Brown, 8 Billy Vunipola.
Replacements: 16 Jamie George, 17 Rhys Gill, 18 Kieran Longbottom, 19 Jim Hamilton, 20 Jackson Wray, 21 Richard Wigglesworth, 22 Owen Farrell, 23 Chris Ashton.