Quins v Saints: Teams

Returning England star David Strettle is back for Harlequins as they look to build on their Heineken Cup quarter-final qualification.

The Londoners ended a four-game winless run with a 29-24 victory at home to the Llanelli Scarlets on Saturday.

But they have not won in the Guinness Premiership since overcoming Bath at the Stoop at the end of November.

The Saints started Quins' downturn with a 23-13 victory at Franklin's Gardens, but with Strettle making his return to the starting XV for the first time since he was injured against Worcester Warriors back in early October they have strength in depth.

Strettle replaces Ugo Monye on the wing, with the regular 11, Danny Care and Nick Easter away on England RBS Six Nations duty.

Andy Gomarsall starts at scrum-half, therefore, and Tom Guest takes the number eight shirt, while Gary Botha replaces the injured Tani Fuga at hooker.

De Wet Barry takes over at outside centre from Gonzalo Tiesi , while Nick Evans returns to his more familiar fly-half position after playing at full-back against the Scarlets.

Chris Malone starts on the bench meanwhile and Mike Brown returns at 15 after being rested.

Conviction

The Saints have won two of their last three away encounters and, although they have an atrocious record on the road in the Premiership, coach Jim Mallinder remains upbeat.

"Our home form has been good this season and now the target has to be to take that form away from home," he said.

"There is no reason why we can't go away and get a win in any game. Just look at Montpellier a few weeks ago, going to France is never easy but we came away with the points.

"We just have to concentrate on our performance for 80 minutes and the results will come. Most importantly we can not afford to be complacent just because we have had a good January. The team will not be taking anything for granted this weekend."

Paul Diggin replaces Chris Ahston the wing for the visitors, Lee Dickson comes in for Ben Foden at scrum-half and there is also movement in the pack.

Mark Hopley takes over at number eight, which means Mark Easter replaces Courtney Lawes at flanker.

Barry Stewart is selected in the front row instead of Euan Murray and Brett Sharman and Neil Best are the new additions, alongside Lawes, on the bench.

Harlequins: 15 Mike Brown, 14 Tom Williams, 13 De Wet Barry, 12 Jordan Turner-Hall, 11 David Strettle, 10 Nick Evans, 9 Andy Gomarsall, 8 Tom Guest, 7 Will Skinner (c), 6 Chris Robshaw, 5 George Robson, 4 Ollie Kohn, 3 Mike Ross, 2 Gary Botha, 1 Ceri Jones.
Replacements: 16 Aston Croall, 17 Mark Lambert, 18 Jim Evans, 19 Neil McMillan, 20 Jnr Polu, 21 Chris Malone, 22 Seb Stegmann.

Northampton: 15 Bruce Reihana (c), 14 Paul Diggin, 13 Jon Clarke, 12 James Downey, 11 Sean Lamont, 10 Stephen Myler, 9 Lee Dickson, 8 Mark Hopley, 7 Scott Gray, 6 Mark Easter, 5 Juandre Kruger, 4 Ignacio Fernandez Lobbe, 3 Barry Stewart, 2 Paul Shields, 1 Soane Tonga'uiha.
Replacements: 16 Brett Sharman, 17 Tom Smith, 18 Courtney Lawes, 19 Neil Best, 20 Alan Dickens, 21 Barry Everitt, 22 Chris Mayor.