He said: “It is a great honour to be playing in this milestone game for a club I have played for throughout my rugby career. I am especially glad that it is in front of what will hopefully be a sell-out home crowd. The supporters have done me a great service in the past and I will enjoy playing in front of them on Sunday.”

Saints have been riddled with injury problems during the last month but have been able to count Carlos Spencer back in the starting XV this week, following his recovery from a hand injury. Steve Thompson will also return to the fray after suffering a dead leg against Narbonne a fortnight ago.

However, tighthead prop Pat Barnard’s left calf strain that saw him hobble off the field during Boxing Day’s game against Sale, will mean a four-week lay-off for the South African. David Quinlan (hamstring strain), Sean Lamont (sprained ankle), and Ben Cohen (fractured cheekbone) remain on the sick list with injuries picked up during Saints’ recent games against Narbonne.

Luke Myring and Rhodri Davies have also been ruled out of Sunday’s game with long-term injuries to the shoulder and groin respectively. However, there is good news for Davies, and his partner in the centre Jon Clarke, as they have both renewed their contracts for a further two years.

Director of rugby Budge Pountney said: “Injuries are part of the game. You get periods when you get a lot of injuries all at the same time. That’s where we are at the minute and we will work through it.”

He added: “Sunday is a huge game for us. Bristol have just come off a game against Leicester which they won, but our players have done quite a lot of soul-searching and hard work through the Christmas period. They have made a huge effort on the training pitch and need to convert that at game-time. The year 2006 is a big year for us.”

Further changes to the starting XV see Andy Vilk make his first start for Saints this season at inside centre, Chris Budgen in for Barnard, and Ben Lewitt swapping to openside flanker from the blindside.

Northampton Saints

15 BRUCE REIHANA (capt)
14 John Rudd
13 Jon Clarke
12 Andy Vilk
11 Paul Diggin
10 CARLOS SPENCER
9 Johnny Howard
1 TOM SMITH
2 STEVE THOMPSON
3 Chris Budgen
4 Damien Browne
5 Matt Lord
6 Ben Lewitt
7 Grant Seely
8 Daniel Browne

Replacements: TBC