Northampton v Connacht: Teams

Ben Foden, Euan Murray and Ignacio Fernandez Lobbe all start for Northampton in Saturday's European Challenge Cup tie against Connacht.

The return of the trio is a timely boost for the Guinness Premiership club ahead of the quarter-final tie at Franklin's Gardens.

Head coach Jim Mallinder is warning against any complacency among the Saints' players and supporters for the game, the club's first European knock-out game in two years.

"It is a massive game for both clubs, particularly with a home semi-final up for grabs," Mallinder said.

"This is why we have named a strong side for the match. We are treating Connacht with the same respect we have given every other opposition club this season.

Tough group

"They have earned their right to be in the quarter-final having come through a tough group and I am expecting a difficult afternoon.

"Connacht have a tough, physical set of forwards who know how to produce good ball, and a collection of backs who know how to create opportunities.

"They have also beaten some of Europe's biggest teams this season and if we take our focus off the task in hand then there is always the potential for us to be beaten."

Connacht have made just one change to the team that defeated the Dragons in the Magners League last time out.

Frank Murphy comes back in at scrum-half as the Irish side look to pull off a repeat of their 1997 success at Northampton's home in the last meeting of the two teams.

Northampton: 15 Ben Foden, 14 Paul Diggin, 13 Joe Ansbro, 12 James Downey, 11 Bruce Reihana (capt), 10 Stephen Myler, 9 Lee Dickson, 8 Roger Wilson, 7 Scott Gray, 6 Neil Best, 5 Juandre Kruger, 4 Ignacio Fernandez Lobbe, 3 Euan Murray, 2 Dylan Hartley, 1 Soane Tonga'uiha.
Replacements: 16 Brett Sharman, 17 Tom Smith, 18 Courtney Lawes, 19 Mark Easter, 20 Alan Dickens, 21 Barry Everitt, 22 Chris Mayor.

Connacht: 15 Gavin Duffy, 14 Fionn Carr, 13 Keith Mathews, 12 Niva Ta'auso, 11 Liam Bibo, 10 Ian Keatley, 9 Frank Murphy, 8 Ray Ofisa, 7 Jonny O'Connor, 6 John Muldoon (c), 5 Andrew Farley, 4 Andrew Browne, 3 Ronan Loughney, 2 Sean Cronin, 1 Brett Wilkinson.
Replacements: 16 Adrian Flavin, 17 Brian McGovern, 18 Michael Swift, 19 Colm Rigney, 20 Conor O'Loughlin, 21 Andy Dunne, 22 Troy Nathan.