Saints v Tigers: team news
Leicester scrum half Harry Ellis has been rested for Friday's Sky Live clash against Northampton.
Northampton Saints v Leicester Tigers
Guinness Premiership, Franklin's Gardens, Friday April 13th, KO 7,45pm, live on Sky Sports 3.
Northampton Saints have selected flanker Darren Fox in their starting line-up for Friday evening's Sky Live midlands derby against Leicester Tigers at Franklin's Gardens.
Fox replaces Sam Harding, who moves down to the replacements bench.
Mark Easter, who scored the winning try during last Saturday's 24-21 win against Bath has been dropped altogether.
"Foxy offers an advantage from the breakdown," Saints head coach Paul Grayson told the club's official website.
"Sam has been playing great for us with his attacking rugby, but I expect the breakdown to be a fiercely contested area.
"And Mark Easter was great for us last week and it is a tough one to swallow as it is in no way a reflection on his performance. It was just one of those tough calls I had to make."
Leicester Tigers coach Pat Howard has named a 22-man squad that does not include scrum half Harry Ellis.
The England international has been rested due to a shin injury, with Scott Bemand taking the No.9 shirt.
"We manage our players as well as we can and at times we have to rest players," Howard told the club's official website.
"Scott Bemand played very well against Leeds and he has got his shot."
Winger Tom Varndell returns after five weeks away with the England Sevens squad.
Vice captain Daryl Gibson is likely to feature on the replacements bench for the first time since dislocating his shoulder against Bristol last December.
Northampton team: 15 B Reihana (co-capt), 14 S Lamont, 13 J Clarke, 12 D Quinlan, 11 B Cohen, 10 C Spencer, 9 M Robinson; 1 T Smith, 2 S Thompson (co-capt), 3 P Barnard, 4 D Browne , 5 M Lord, 6 P Tupai, 7 D Fox, 8 D Browne.
Replacements: 16 D Richmond, 17 C Budgen, 18 D Gerard, 19 B Lewitt, 20 S Harding , 21 J Howard, 22 Robbie Kydd.
Leicester squad: J White, M Holford, G Rowntree, J Buckland, G Chuter, B Kay, L Deacon, L Cullen, J Hamilton, L Moody, S Jennings, M Corry, S Bemand, A Healey, A Goode, O Smith, D Gibson, D Hipkiss, T Varndell, Alex Tuilagi, G Murphy, S Vesty.
