Saturday 22 November 2014 13:38, UK
Premiership leaders Northampton Saints travel to fourth-placed Saracens in Sunday's game of the day at Allianz Park.
Sarries have won their last eleven home games in all competitions while the visitors head into the game on the back of a 18-24 home defeat to Exeter last week.
England number eight Billy Vunipola will start for Saracens and joins Jackson Wray (blindside flanker) and Will Fraser (openside flanker) in the back row.
At lock, Jim Hamilton comes into the side to partner skipper Alistair Hargreaves, whilst in the front row Rhys Gill, Jamie George and Juan Figallo will start the game.
At scrum-half, Ben Spencer replaces Richard Wigglesworth who is away on England duty, to partner Charlie Hodgson. Chris Wyles continues at inside centre and is joined by Nick Tompkins in the heart of the Saracens midfield.
In the back-three Saracens remain unchanged, with in-form wings David Strettle and Chris Ashton joining Alex Goode in the back field.
On the bench, hooker Brett Sharman could face his former club, whilst Richard Barrington and James Johnston are named as prop replacements.
LV=Cup captain Maro Itoje comes into the squad, with Jacques Burger and Ernst Joubert also taking their place on the Saracens bench. Neil de Kock and Ben Ransom are named as the Saracens backs replacements.
The Saints team shows two changes from that which started last Friday's loss to Exeter.
In the backs Tom Collins is ruled out, with James Wilson coming onto the wing.
But in the pack the Saints have been bolstered by James Craig's return, with the lock's introduction meaning that Samu Manoa switches to number eight. Phil Dowson moves to the flank, with Ben Nutley dropping to the bench.
The other game of the day sees London Welsh take on Leicester at the Kassam Stadium still searching for their first win of the season.
The Tigers have lost their last two away matches but have not lost three in a row on the road in the competition since October 2010 and will be favourites to come away with victory.
The Exiles have made four changes with Opeti Fonua starting. Fonua comes in for the injured Chris Hala'ufia while Ricky Reeves replaces the injured Pablo Henn at loosehead with Nathan Vella at hooker.
In the backs, Gordon Ross starts at fly-half with Will Robinson named amongst the replacements.
Ex-Bradford Bulls and Wales Rugby League wing Elliot Kear is named on the bench alongside Nathan Trevett, who is set to make his first competitive appearance of the season.
"Last Sunday hurt hugely; it certainly showed the step up to the Aviva Premiership. All credit to Wasps, they were consistent for the full 80 minutes, but the scoreline was unacceptable," said Welsh head coach Justin Burnell.
"London Welsh, though, is a remarkable place to work - you have to admire our players and the environment. The players were in on Monday, identifying the faults and working hard eradicate them, while as coaches we constantly keep looking for ways to improve.
"Our next three Premiership games are Leicester, Northampton and Saracens - arguably the three big sides. It doesn't get much bigger than this - Leicester have consistently been one of the league's big boys. We've got to front up; if we don't it could be another horrendous day at the office."
Freddie Burns returns to the Tigers backline. The England international starts at fly-half, with Tommy Bell coming in at full-back for his first league start for the club. Adam Thompstone returns on the wing in his first Aviva Premiership appearance of the season.
The forward pack features the same eight players who started against Saracens at Welford Road last Sunday, with Italy international back-rower Robert Barbieri and off-season signing Laurence Pearce added to the replacements.
