Quins v Northampton: Teams
Table-toppers Harlequins will be looking to prove their superiority when they host Northampton in their play-off semi-final.
Last Updated: 12/05/12 12:14pm
Aviva Premiership table-toppers Harlequins will be looking to prove their superiority when they host Northampton in their play-off semi-final at the Twickenham Stoop on Saturday.
Quins enjoyed a superb season and finished 10 points ahead of Saints during the campaign, but those points count for nothing now they are playing knockout rugby.
Home advantage could be key with Quins the best home side in the Premiership this season - alongside Saturday's opponents.
What has been evident and will be this weekend is that Northampton are missing the force of Courtney Lawes, Callum Clark and Tom Wood, along with the lack of game time for lock Samu Manoa and also the absence of suspended captain Dylan Hartley.
Quins have also had their injury issues at hooker of late but the return of Joe Gray will boost them. Nick Easter will also have something to prove.
One change
This week sees only one change to last week's starting XV and therefore one change to the bench also as Karl Dickson comes into the starting line-up in place of Danny Care.
Care was recalled to England duty for the South Africa tour but misses out on the play-off game after picking up an injury against Sale Sharks at Edgeley Park last weekend.
Mike Brown starts at full-back alongside Tom Williams and Sam Smith on the wings. Jordan Turner-Hall and George Lowe continue in the centre outside Nick Evans and Karl Dickson.
The forward pack is unchanged with Joe Marler, Gray and James Johnston in the front row. Olly Kohn and George Robson start in the second row. Maurie Fa'asavalu, Nick Easter and captain Robshaw complete the forwards in the back-row.
The replacements see Rob Buchanan, Mark Lambert, Will Collier, Tomas Vallejos and Tom Guest covering the forward pack. Richard Bolt comes onto the bench alongside Rory Clegg and Matt Hopper who cover the remaining backs.
Saints
England full-back Ben Foden will make his 100th Northampton appearance at the Twickenham Stoop, following fellow Saints centurions this season in Chris Ashton, Lee Dickson and Roger Wilson.
Scrum-half Dickson captains Saints in their third Premiership play-off tie, and he is partnered at half-back by Ryan Lamb.
"We have seen Ben develop his game consistently over the past few years, and he is now one of the important players we have at Franklin's Gardens," Jim Mallinder said of Foden.
"He has had an outstanding season for us and has shown how good he is at international level as well.
"Harlequins have led the Premiership pretty much from start to finish, and will no doubt be feeling confident ahead of tomorrow's game," he said. "They have won plenty of big games in tough places and have a team which is playing with confidence.
"It is going to be a very difficult game for us, but I believe that we have the right mentality and players to be able to get the result we want. Training has been intense and positive this week and everyone has been focused on the challenge in front of them.
"We know we have the team to do well, now it is up to the players to show what they can do."
Harlequins: 15 Mike Brown, 14 Tom Williams, 13 George Lowe, 12 Jordan Turner-Hall, 11 Sam Smith, 10 Nick Evans, 9 Karl Dickson, 8 Nick Easter, 7 Chris Robshaw (capt), 6 Maurie Fa'asavalu, 5 George Robson, 4 Olly Kohn, 3 James Johnston, 2 Joe Gray, 1 Joe Marler.
Replacements: 16 Rob Buchanan, 17 Mark Lambert, 18 Will Collier, 19 Tomas Vallejos, 20 Tom Guest, 21 Richard Bolt, 22 Rory Clegg, 23 Matt Hopper.
Northampton: 15 Ben Foden, 14 Chris Ashton, 13 George Pisi, 12 James Downey, 11 Paul Diggin, 10 Ryan Lamb, 9 Lee Dickson (capt), 8 Roger Wilson, 7 Phil Dowson, 6 James Craig, 5 Christian Day, 4 Mark Sorenson, 3 Brian Mujati, 2 Andy Long, 1 Soane Tonga'uiha.
Replacements: 16 Ross McMillan, 17 Alex Waller, 18 Paul Doran-Jones, 19 Ben Nutley, 20 Teimana Harrison, 21 Martin Roberts, 22 Stephen Myler, 23 Tom May.