Northampton Saints v Worcester Warriors: Team news for Friday's Franklin's Gardens friendly

Waller has been out since February with an Achilles problem, while Wood was forced to miss the closing stages of last season due to a pulmonary embolism in his lung.

But both are now ready to get back in business, and both will start against the Warriors, with Waller skippering Saints in a game that will comprise of four 30-minute periods.

Alex Coles, Nick Auterac and Connor Tupai also fit again and ready to make their returns from the bench.

But Saints are without new club co-captain Lewis Ludlam, Dan Biggar, George Furbank, Alex Mitchell, Sam Matavesi and David Ribbans – all of whom are away on international duty.

The likes of Courtney Lawes, Rory Hutchinson, Teimana Harrison, Harry Mallinder and Mikey Haywood are recovering from injuries.

Saints have named a 22-man bench packed full of youth, with Academy first years Ethan Grayson, Tom Litchfield and Dani Long-Martinez all set for their first action in a senior Northampton side.

All players in the matchday squad are expected to be given an opportunity to catch the eye.

The game will be refereed by Craig Maxwell-Keys (two quarters), George Selwood and Neil Chivers (one quarter each).

Saints: Tuala; Naiyaravoro, Proctor, Francis, Collins; Grayson, Taylor; Waller (c), Fish, Hill; Moon, Isiekwe; Wood, Tonks, Adendorff.

Replacements: Auterac, Coles, Dingwall, Franks, Freeman, Garside, Gillespie, Grayson, Hughes, Iyogun, James, Litchfield, Long-Martinez, Ma’asi, Marshall, Mathews, Newman, Olowofela, Painter, Ratuniyarawa, Tupai, Uru

Unavailable due to injury: Teimana Harrison (calf), Mikey Haywood (knee), Rory Hutchinson (ankle), Courtney Lawes (ankle), Harry Mallinder (knee), Ollie Sleightholme (ankle), Kayde Sylvester (achilles).

Worcester Warriors squad for clash with Saints: Backs: Melani Nanai, Chris Pennell, Noah Heward, Jono Kitto, Michael Heaney, Harry Spencer, Oli Morris, Alex Hearle, Scott van Breda, Francois Venter, Seb Atkinson, Ed Fidow, Nick David, Billy Searle, Jamie Shillcock, Finn Smith, Francois Hougaard, Gareth Simpson.

Forwards: Ethan Waller, Marc Thomas, Callum Black, Kai Owen, Niall Annett, Beck Cutting, Isaac Miller, Nick Schonert, Richard Palframan, Joe Morris, Anton Bresler, George Merrick, James Scott, Andrew Kitchener, Joe Batley, Justin Clegg, Marco Mama, Matt Cox, Sam Lewis, Matti Williams, Jack Forsythe, Tom Dodd, Morgan Monks.

Unavailable: Ashley Beck, Will Butler, Conor Carey, Cornell du Preez, Ted Hill, Lewis Holsey, Tom Howe, Perry Humphreys, Ollie Lawrence, Graham Kitchener, Caleb Montgomery, Matt Moulds, GJ van Velze, Duncan Weir.

You can follow Friday's pre-season game live via the Twitter feed of Tom Vickers (@WheresTommyV)