Wood, Hartley and Elliott return for Saints as Sale come to town
England duo Tom Wood and Dylan Hartley return to the Saints squad for Saturday’s Aviva Premiership with Sale Sharks at Franklin’s Gardens (kick-off 3.15pm).
Wood starts after missing the past three games with a back injury, while Hartley, who had a similar problem, is named among the replacements, with Mike Haywood again at hooker.
Winger Jamie Elliott will make his first start of the season, having played 40 minutes for the Wanderers on Monday night.
Wales star George North is on the bench with next Saturday’s trip to Racing Metro in the Rugby Champions Cup seemingly entering the thinking.
Lee Dickson is fit to take his place at scrum-half after being forced off with a shoulder injury at London Irish last weekend.
Saints: Foden; K Pisi, G Pisi, Burrell, Elliott; Myler, L Dickson; A Waller, Haywood, Ma’afu; Lawes, Craig; Wood, Fisher, Manoa.
Replacements: Hartley, E Waller, Denman, C Day, Clark, Fotuali’i, Wilson, North.
Sale: McLean; Brady, Leota, Jennings, Arscott; Cipriani, Cusiter; Harrison, Jones, Cobilas; Beaumont, Paterson; Lund, Seymour, Easter.
Replacements: Neild, de Marchi, Lewis Roberts, Mills, Fihaki, Cliff, Ford, Forsyth.