Northampton v Quins: Teams

Northampton Saints director of rugby Jim Mallinder believes his side will be handed a stern examination when they welcome Harlequins to Franklin's Gardens in the Guinness Premiership.

The Quins come to town on Saturday having won their last two away games, and Mallinder is wary of the threat they pose right across the field.

"Harlequins have come right back into form over the past few weeks," he said.

"They are playing in the same way that got them to the semi-finals of last year's Guinness Premiership. They haven't lost for a month and have won their last two away games, at Worcester and Newcastle.

"They like to keep the ball in hand and have strike runners who can beat defenders. However Harlequins don't like their opponents playing quick rugby, and they are very good at slowing the ball down at the breakdown, as we found out both here and at the Stoop last season.

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"We have been delighted to get two wins in the LV= Cup. Winning is important and we want to keep our momentum that we built up in the earlier rounds of the Guinness Premiership."

There is just one change to the starting lineup as Neil Best, who played in Ireland 'A's win over Tonga last weekend, returns to the number seven shirt. The remainder of the changes are on the bench.

Courtney Lawes returns from England duty to take a place among the replacements alongside Scott Gray, Regardt Dreyer and Euan Murray.

Murray is in line for his first action of the season after recovering from an ankle injury sustained on the British and Irish Lions' South African tour this summer, and Mallinder paid tribute to the Scot's work ethic during his months of rehabilitation.

"Euan has worked extremely hard to recover from a very serious injury," he said.

"It is a credit to him and all the medical and conditioning staff that he is ready to play ahead of schedule."

Harlequins have recalled Tom Williams to the starting XV for the first time following a four month ban for his involvement in the bloodgate scandal.

The 26-year-old was initially suspended for a year after faking a cut mouth with a blood capsule to enable his side to make an extra substitution in a Heineken Cup tie last year.

That period was reduced as full details of the deception and subsequent attempts to cover it up emerged.

Northampton: 15 Ben Foden, 14 Chris Ashton, 13 Jon Clarke, 12 James Downey, 11 Bruce Reihana, 10 Stephen Myler, 9 Lee Dickson, 8 Roger Wilson, 7 Neil Best, 6 Phil Dowson (c), 5 Juandre Kruger, 4 Christian Day, 3 Santiago Bonorino, 2 Brett Sharman, 1 Soane Tonga'uiha,
Replacements: 16 Joe Gray, 17 Regardt Dreyer, 18 Euan Murray, 19 Courtney Lawes, 20 Scott Gray, 21 Alan Dickens, 22 Barry Everitt, 23 Joe Ansbro.

Harlequins: 15 Mike Brown, 14 David Strettle, 13 George Lowe, 12 Nils Mordt, 11 Tom Williams, 10 Nick Evans, 9 Karl Dickson, 8 Tom Guest, 7 Neil McMillan, 6 Chris Robshaw (c), 5 George Robson, 4 James Percival, 3 John Andress, 2 Tani Fuga, 1 Ceri Jones.
Replacements: 16 Chris Brooker, 17 Aston Croall, 18 Mark Lambert, 19 Lewis Stevenson, 20 Chris York, 21 Steve So'oialo, 22 Rory Clegg, 23 Josh Drauniniu.