Tom Smith starts at loosehead prop alongside Dylan Hartley and Soane Tonga'uiha, who comes into the side for the injured Pat Barnard. The only other change in the pack from the match against Harlequins sees Mark Hopley make his first Guinness Premiership start of the season at No.8. Paul Tupai resumes his normal position at blindside and Alex Rae drops to the bench.
The call-ups of Sean Lamont and Robbie Kydd to the Scotland and Scotland 'A' side respectively mean the backline contains new personnel. Paul Diggin wears the No.14 shirt and Seamus Mallon comes in for Kydd.
Carlos Spencer also misses the trip having succumbed to a calf injury he's been carrying for two weeks. He is replaced by Stephen Myler at fly-half who recently returned from injury in the Travis Perkins Club v Country Challenge.
"We're expecting as hard a contest as ever at Welford Road," said. Saints head coach Paul Grayson. "They've got a big squad of quality players and are riding high in the league.
"We want to play the way we want to play. There aren't many teams that get anything out of Welford Road but we'll certainly be looking to put in a good performance."
Northampton Saints
(internationals in CAPS)
15 BRUCE REIHANA (capt)
14 Paul Diggin
13 Seamus Mallon
12 DAVID QUINLAN
11 BEN COHEN
10 Stephen Myler
9 MARK ROBINSON
1 TOM SMITH
2 Dylan Hartley
3 SOANE TONGA'UIHA
4 Damien Browne
5 Christian Short
6 PAUL TUPAI
7 Darren Fox
8 Mark Hopley
Replacements
16 MATIAS CORTESE
17 Chris Budgen
18 Matt Lord
19 Alex Rae
20 Johnny Howard
21 VAUGHAN GOING
22 Matthieu Bourret
