Northampton Saints v Sale Sharks: Full team news for Saturday's game

Freeman suffered a hamstring problem while on England duty during the autumn, but he is now set to make his comeback this weekend.

Ollie Sleightholme is also among the replacements as Edoardo Todaro, who has completed his two-week suspension, replaces him on the wing.

Rory Hutchinson is rested after he suffered a severe leg cut that required stitches last Sunday, meaning Toby Thame partners Fraser Dingwall at centre.

Manny Iyogun replaces Danilo Fischetti at loosehead in the third Saints change to the team that beat Vodacom Bulls 50-5 last weekend.

Saints opt to revert to a 5:3 split on the bench, with Callum Chick returning to take his place among the replacements after being rested against the Bulls.

James Ramm serves the final game of his suspension, while Emeka Atuanya, Will Glister, Curtis Langdon, Tom Litchfield, Tom Lockett, Charlie Ulcoq and Tom West remain sidelined due to injury.

As for Sale, they have made two changes to the team that claimed an impressive win at Clermont Auvergne last Saturday, bringing in England and British & Irish Lions stars Luke Cowan-Dickie and Tom Curry.

Tom replaces brother Ben in the back row, while Cowan-Dickie starts at hooker.

Cowan-Dickie is part of an abrasive front row alongside props Si McIntyre and WillGriff John.

In the second row, England Under-20s captain Tom Burrow starts again alongside the ever-present Ben Bamber, who won player of the match for his performance in Clermont.

In the back row, skipper Ernst van Rhyn lines up at openside again, with Jacques Vermeulen at blindside flanker and the returning Curry at No.8.

At half-back, Raffi Quirke teams up again with Rob du Preez, who starts again at fly-half in the continued absence of George Ford.

Marius Louw will start at 12 with Joe Bedlow earning another start after his performance against Clermont.

In the back three, Alex Wills starts on the left wing with Tom O’Flaherty once again on the right and Scotland’s Arron Reed at full-back.

Saints: 15 George Furbank (c); 14 George Hendy, 13 Toby Thame, 12 Fraser Dingwall, 11 Edoardo Todaro; 10 Fin Smith, 9 Alex Mitchell; 1 Emmanuel Iyogun, 2 Craig Wright, 3 Trevor Davison; 4 Alex Coles, 5 JJ Van Der Mescht; 6 Josh Kemeny, 7 Tom Pearson, 8 Henry Pollock.

Replacements: 16 Robbie Smith, 17 Danilo Fischetti, 18 Cleopas Kundiona, 19 Chunya Munga, 20 Callum Chick, 21 Tom James, 22 Tommy Freeman, 23 Ollie Sleightholme.

Sale Sharks: 15 Arron Reed; 14 Tom O’Flaherty, 13 Joe Bedlow, 12 Marius Louw, 11 Alex Wills; 10 Rob du Preez, 9 Raffi Quirke; 1 Si McIntyre, 2 Luke Cowan-Dickie, 3 WillGriff John; 4 Tom Burrow, 5 Ben Bamber; 6 Jacques Vermeulen, 7 Ernst van Rhyn (c), 8 Tom Curry.

Replacements: 16. Nathan Jibulu, 17. Tumy Onasanya, 18. James Harper, 19. Hyron Andrews, 20. Dan du Preez, 21. Gus Warr, 22. Ollie Davies, 23. Tristan Woodman.