Leeds Tykes Team News

England international Tim Stimpson and Tom Palmer both return for the Tykes for Friday’s game against Northampton.  Palmer has missed the five games with a  foot injury whilst Stimpson missed out last week against Grenoble.

South African U21 international Rayno Gerber will make his debut for the Tykes having arrived from the Free State Cheetahs where he played in this seasons Currie Cup Final.  Jon Dunbar also returns to the starting line up after being amongst the replacements last week.

15. Tim Stimpson
14. Iain Balshaw
13. Chris Bell
12. Andre Snyman
11. Tom Biggs
10. Gordon Ross
09. Alan Dickens

01. Mike Shelley
02. Mark Regan
03. Rayno Gerber
04. Scott Morgan
05. Tom Palmer (c)
06. Jon Dunbar
07. Dan Hyde
08. Colm Rigney

16. Gavin Kerr
17. Rob Rawlinson
18. Michael Cusack
19. Chris Murphy
20. Alix Popham
21. Mark McMillan
22. David Rees

Northampton Saints Team News

Northampton Saints' international front row players Steve Thompson and Robbie Kempson will start Friday night's game against Leeds Tykes at Headingley.

However, Saints will be without Scotland prop Tom Smith, who has been diagnosed with a knee cartilage injury. Chris Budgen will take his place at loose-head.

The backs remain the same from last week's victory against Llanelli and the other changes in the forwards include the return from injury of lock Selborne Boome and a reshuffle in the back-row created by Darren Fox's eight-week ban for a head-butt on a Glasgow player. Andrew Blowers will wear the No 6 shirt with Grant Seely coming in at No 8. Matt Lord will also be rested this weekend after suffering a slight hamstring strain last weekend.

Dan Richmond has moved to the bench alongside Mark Soden, who returns from a hand fracture.

Friday night's game comes on the back of two wins in the Heineken Cup for Saints, which followed five straight league defeats.

Head coach Alan Solomons said today: "The wins have engendered confidence in the team. It does, to some extent, take the pressure off but it's important we build on it."

He added: Obviously, we would like to beat Leeds, but we are fully aware that we will have to be on top of our form to get the result we want."

NORTHAMPTON SAINTS
 
15 BRUCE REIHANA
14 Wylie Human
13 Marc Stcherbina
12 Chris Hyndman
11 BEN COHEN
10 PAUL GRAYSON
9 MARK ROBINSON
1 Chris Budgen
2 STEVE THOMPSON
3 ROBBIE KEMPSON
4 SELBORNE BOOME
5 Damien Browne
6 ANDREW BLOWERS
7 CORNE KRIGE (capt)
8 Grant Seely
 
Replacements
16 Dan Richmond
17 Brett Sturgess
18 Ed O'Donoghue
19 Mark Soden
20 Johnny Howard
21 Shane Drahm
22 Andy Vilk
 
International players in capital letters