Saints v Scarlets: Teams

Northampton Saints need a bonus point victory against Llanelli Scarlets to make the semi-finals of the EDF Energy Cup.

Saints director of rugby Jim Mallinder has called for his men to produce an improved display against the Welsh side in order to prolong their interest in this season's tournament.

Although they lost their last game at Saracens, Northampton have won their last 20 games at home and no team has won an EDF Energy Cup match at Franklin's Gardens since 2006.

Only once have a Welsh team triumphed at Northampton, although that was the Scarlets in their 18-9 victory in February 2004.

Mallinder welcomes back three Scots to his squad after a training camp in Spain, with Euan Murray, Sean Lamont and Scott Gray all available for selection.

Back rower Mark Easter is named on the bench and he looks likely to play his first minutes of the season, while Carlos Spencer is also on the bench after returning from injury.

The Scarlets enjoyed a win against Bristol last week in their Stradey Park send-off, meaning they will arrive in Northampton high in confidence.

Scarlets have also won their last four matches in the EDF Energy Cup but they have a 4-8 win-loss record against English teams in England.

The head-to-head record is finely poised at two wins apiece, with the Welsh outfit winning both matches in the 2003/04 European Cup while the Saints reversed that form a year later.

Northampton: 15 Bruce Reihana (c), 14 Chris Ashton, 13 Chris Mayor, 12 James Downey, 11 Sean Lamont, 10 Stephen Myler, 9 Ben Foden, 8 Roger Wilson, 7 Scott Gray, 6 Mark Hopley, 5 Courtney Lawes, 4 Ignacio Fernandez Lobbe, 3 Euan Murray, 2 Paul Shields, 1 Tom Smith.

Replacements: 16 Joe Gray, 17 Soane Tonga'uiha, 18 Christian Day, 19 Mark Easter, 20 Lee Dickson, 21 Carlos Spencer, 22 Paul Diggin.

Scarlets: 15 Morgan Stoddart, 14 Rob Higgit, 13 regan King, 12 Gavin Evans, 11 Matthew jacob, 10 Ceiron Thomas, 9 Sililo Martens, 8 David Lyons, 7 Simon Easterby, 6 Nathan Thomas, 5 Dominic Day, 4 Dafydd Jones, 3 Kees Meeuws, 2 Ken Owens, 1 Isetyn Thomas.

Replacements: 16 Phil John,17 Matthew Rees,18 Josh Turnbull,19 Gavin Thomas, 20 Martin Roberts, 21 Stephen Jones, 22 Jonathan Davies.