The only other change is the reinstatement of wing Ben Cohen to the first XV after he was forced to pull out of last weekend’s game against Sale Sharks with a virus. Steve Thompson has also recovered from the same illness.

Head coach Paul Grayson said: “We are just about through it. Most of the players are fighting fit. Hopefully, we can move on and stay healthy for a while. Normal mortals who don’t attain the level of fitness these guys do have an immune system that operates at a normal level. These guys are like Formula One cars and something like this really puts their immune system under pressure. So I think it will take a week to 10 days before we are 100 per cent.”

Saints face Bath following last weekend’s 32-20 defeat to Sale Sharks to join the six other clubs that have won one and lost one after the first two weeks of the league season. It will give captain Bruce Reihana a chance to further settle himself into his new role at centre and to give Robbie Kydd another run at full-back.

Grayson added: “I thought we should have got two points from the Sale game. We had Sale under pressure and we should have got a fourth try. Coming away from it, the sense of frustration from the players in not getting anything out of the game was evident and that’s a good thing.

“Bruce was good. He was direct in attack, warmed to the task and was very steady. I think he is more than capable of making an impact in that position. Robbie Kydd was also good. He spent half a season out with a horrendous injury but he is a proven performer at Premiership level and is an outstanding player – I know that and Smithy (former head coach Wayne Smith) knew that. Smithy tried to sign him too. Robbie is simply a class player.

“Bath played some good rugby last weekend. Leicester seemed to have burned all their energy against Sale, so Bath pulled away at the end with two good tries. They are very big up front and Steve Meehan has got them all looking enthusiastic.”

There are still plenty of tickets available for this game following some returns from Bath. Supporters are also asked to use the Ross Road entrance to the car parks while contractors finish working on the link road from Sixfields.

Northampton Saints

15 Robbie Kydd
14 SEAN LAMONT
13 BRUCE REIHANA (capt)
12 DAVID QUINLAN
11 BEN COHEN
10 CARLOS SPENCER
9 MARK ROBINSON
1 TOM SMITH
2 STEVE THOMPSON
3 Pat Barnard
4 Matt Lord
5 Christian Short
6 PAUL TUPAI
7 Darren Fox
8 Daniel Browne

16 Dan Richmond
17 Chris Budgen
18 Damien Browne
19 Mark Easter
20 Ben Lewitt
21 Ian Vass
22 Luke Myring