Northampton Saints v Newcastle Red Bulls: Full team news for the PREM opener
Henry Pollock will hit his Saints half-century when Phil Dowson's men begin their Gallagher PREM title defence at home to Newcastle Red Bulls on Friday night (kick-off 7.45pm).
Pollock will be making his 50th appearance for his boyhood club in the week he signed a new deal at DPD Stadium at Franklin's Gardens.
He likes up in the No.7 shirt, forming a formidable back row with Josh Kemeny and Callum Chick.
Tom Pearson is not in the matchday squad so Josh Taylor returns after missing the pre-season win against Black Lion last Friday to take a place on the bench.
Taylor is primed for his PREM debut after joining from Ealing Trailfinders during the summer, while another close-season recruit, Italy tighthead prop Ion Neculai, is also set for his first PREM appearance as he is also among the replacements.
Toby Thame suffered an injury against Black Lion last Friday and he has now been added to the injury list.
Rory Hutchinson returns at centre as he partners new club captain Fraser Dingwall.
Archie McParland gets the nod at scrum-half, with Alex Mitchell among the replacements.
James Pater keeps his place at full-back, with George Hendy and Tommy Freeman on the wings.
Danilo Fischetti and Anthony Belleau have both been passed fit after they were forced off last Friday, with the duo taking their place on the bench.
JJ van der Mescht remains on the unavailable list, which also includes the names of Thame, Tom Litchfield, Ben Alexander, Trevor Davison, Malik Faissal, Luke Green, Henry Lumley, Aidan Pugh, Oliver Scola, Edoardo Todaro and Lefty Zigiriadis.
As for Newcastle, they are set to hand PREM debuts to three players they signed from Saints during the summer as Elliot Millar Mills and Sam Graham start, with Tom West on the bench.
Benjamín Elizalde, Nathan Greenwood, Josh Hodge, Murray McCallum, Richard Palframan, Raffi Quirke, Reuben Parsons, Will Rigg, Adam Scott, Rusi Tuima, George Turner and Sam Waugh make up Newcastle's unavailable list.
Saints: 15 James Pater; 14 Tommy Freeman, 13 Rory Hutchinson, 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: 16 Robbie Smith, 17 Danilo Fischetti, 18 Ion Neculai, 19 Tom Lockett, 20 Josh Taylor, 21 Alex Mitchell, 22 Anthony Belleau, 23 Ollie Sleightholme.
Newcastle Red Bulls: 15 Harrison Obatoyinbo; 14 Christian Wade, 13 Alex Hearle, 12 Chris Harris, 11 Werner Kok; 10 Brett Connon, 9 James Elliott; 1 Pouri Rakete-Stones, 2 George McGuigan, 3 Elliot Millar Mills; 4 Oscar Usher, 5 Cam Jordan; 6 Max Hicks, 7 Tom Christie (c), 8 Sam Graham.
Replacements: 16 Ollie Fletcher, 17 Tom West, 18 James Harper, 19 Franco Molina, 20 Ollie Leatherbarrow, 21 Simón Benítez Cruz, 22 Zack Henry, 23 Hoskins Sotutu.