Northampton Saints v Bordeaux-Bègles: Team news for Friday's game at Franklin's Gardens

Lawes has not featured for Saints since suffering an ankle injury against Sale Sharks in the final game of September, while Biggar has been away with Wales.

But Lawes is fit again and Biggar's autumn campaign with his country is now over, meaning they are both ready to return to Saints' starting line-up.

Tom Wood will be the skipper this week as Alex Waller is rested and Lewis Ludlam is ruled out with a shin injury.

Taqele Naiyaravoro makes his first competitive start of the new campaign as he comes in on the wing, while George Furbank has recovered from concussion and wears the 15 shirt.

Piers Francis is rested as Matt Proctor moves from the wing to join Rory Hutchinson at centre, while Alex Mitchell comes in for Henry Taylor at scrum-half.

Nick Auterac gets his first start of the season at loosehead, while Sam Matavesi is back from Fiji duty and starts at hooker, with Reece Marshall (concussion) missing out.

Nick Isiekwe switches to the second row to accomodate Lawes at six, and Shaun Adendorff gets the nod at No.8 with Teimana Harrison still sidelined due to a calf problem.

JJ Tonks has recovered from a shoulder injury to take his place on a bench that also includes the likes of Paul Hill and Ryan Olowofela.

Alex Coles (shoulder), Harrison (calf), Mikey Haywood (knee), Danny Hobbs-Awoyemi (achilles), Ludlam (shin), Marshall (concussion), Alex Moon (ankle), Ollie Sleightholme (ankle) and Kayde Sylvester (Achilles) make up the injured list.

Saints: Furbank; Tuala, Proctor, Hutchinson, Naiyaravoro; Biggar, Mitchell; Auterac, Matavesi, Franks; Ribbans, Isiekwe; Lawes, Wood (c), Adendorff.

Replacements: Fish, van Wyk, Hill, Ratuniyarawa, Tonks, Taylor, Dingwall, Olowofela.

Bordeaux-Bègles: Buros; Cordero, Moefana, Lamerat, Lam; Botica, Lucu; Paiva, Lamothe, Cobilas; Petti, Cazeaux; Woki, Diaby (c), Higginbotham.

Replacements: Kaulashvili, Maynadier, Tameifuna, Marais, Tauleigne, Gimbert, Jalibert, Uberti.