Clarke, who made a try-scoring return to action in the Guinness ‘A’ League on Wednesday evening, last played in the top flight on the opening day of the season. The seven-month absence was due to a broken ankle suffered half-an-hour into the match against Newcastle.

However Clarke impressed Paul Grayson enough on Wednesday to earn his selection.

“Jon confirmed on Wednesday what a big miss he’s been for us this season,” said Saints’ head coach. “He’s come back well from a bad break and worked really hard in training to get himself back into contention before the end of the season.

“I had no hesitation in putting Jon into the starting line-up on Sunday.”

With Robbie Kydd’s absence due to a facial injury suffered in last weekend’s game at Kingston Park, Clarke’s partner in the centre is his captain, Bruce Reihana. They are the only changes in the backline.

Up front John Brooks, Damien Browne and Ben Lewitt return to the front, second and back rows respectively. There is also a place at Number 8 for Daniel Browne, who will make his first appearance since suffering a hand injury at the end of January.

Grayson is under no illusions as to the magnitude of Sunday’s game.

“Wasps have got quality right across the board,” he says. “They’ve got some formidable performers in the pack and a lot of pace and athleticism out wide. It’s no surprise they are where they are. They play a simple, direct, aggressive game. To counter that you’ve got to be up for the fight and that’s what we intend to be.”

NORTHAMPTON SAINTS TEAM TO FACE LONDON WASPS (intls in CAPS)
Guinness Premiership Round 21, Adams Park, Sunday, April 15th 2007
15 Paul Diggin
14 SEAN LAMONT
13 Jon Clarke
12 BRUCE REIHANA (capt)
11 BEN COHEN
10 CARLOS SPENCER
9 MARK ROBINSON
1 TOM SMITH
2 Dylan Hartley
3 John Brooks
4 Damien Browne
5 Christian Short
6 PAUL TUPAI
7 Ben Lewitt
8 Daniel Browne

Replacements
16 MATIAS CORTESE
17 SOANE TONGA’UHIA
18 DAVID GERARD
19 Darren Fox / CHRISTIAN LABIT
20 Johnny Howard
21 Luke Myring
22 Seamus Mallon

Elsewhere, Saints Senior Academy members David Smith and Danny Pointon have both been selected on the bench for England U19's final pool match of the IRB Under 19 World Championships against New Zealand this evening. The game kicks off at 5:30pm at Ravenhill. And Courtney Lawes has retained his place on the bench for England U18's next Six Nations Festival game tomorrow against Ireland in Glasgow.