Northampton Saints v Black Lion: Team news for Friday's pre-season fixture

Anthony Belleau and Ollie Sleightholme are among the players ready to feature for Saints in their final pre-season tune-up on Friday night.

Belleau and Sleightholme have come off the unavailable list to be named among the replacements for the clash with Georgian side Black Lion at Franklin's Gardens (kick-off 7.30pm).

Anthony Belleau (left) is on the bench against Black Lion as Fraser Dingwall (centre) skippers Saints and Josh Kemeny gets his first game time ahead of the new season (photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)

placeholder image — Anthony Belleau (left) is on the bench against Black Lion as Fraser Dingwall (centre) skippers Saints and Josh Kemeny gets his first game time ahead of the new season (photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)

However, two new names have been added to the absentees list, with JJ van der Mescht and Josh Taylor now ruled out.

Van der Mescht and Taylor both appeared to pick up knocks in the PREM Rugby Cup defeat at Harlequins last weekend.

There is a far more senior look to the side Saints have selected this week as they bring back their international stars.

Manny Iyogun, Alex Coles, Henry Pollock, Fin Smith and Tommy Freeman all return from their mandatory rest period to start.

Alex Mitchell is among the replacements, along with the likes of Danilo Fischetti and Rory Hutchinson.

Curtis Langdon and Josh Kemeny start as they get their first game time ahead of the new campaign.

James Pater is given the nod at full-back, with other potential options at 15, George Hendy and Freeman, lining up on the wings.

Club captain Fraser Dingwall will skipper Saints as he lines up at centre alongside Toby Thame, who scored against Quins last Saturday.

Streamed in association with production company 24/7, Friday’s match will be shown live on Saints' YouTube channel for any supporters unable to attend.

Tickets for the fixture are still available, priced from £19* adult and £12* child (*subject to £1.50 booking fee) by clicking HERE.

Saints: 15 James Pater; 14 Tommy Freeman, 13 Toby Thame, 12 Fraser Dingwall (c), 11 George Hendy; 10 Fin Smith, 9 Archie McParland; 1 Emmanuel Iyogun, 2 Curtis Langdon, 3 Cleopas Kundiona; 4 Alex Coles, 5 Ed Prowse; 6 Josh Kemeny, 7 Henry Pollock, 8 Callum Chick.

Replacements: Robbie Smith, Danilo Fischetti, Ion Neculai, Tom Lockett, Chunya Munga, Aiden Ainsworth-Cave, Tom Pearson, Jack Lewis, Alex Mitchell, Anthony Belleau, Ollie Sleightholme, Rory Hutchinson, Hugh Shields, Thomas Rowe, James Martin.

Not available for selection: Ben Alexander, Trevor Davison, Malik Faissal, Luke Green, Henry Lumley, Aidan Pugh, Oliver Scola, Josh Taylor, Edoardo Todaro, JJ Van Der Mescht and Lefty Zigiriadis.