Northampton Saints v Ulster: Team news for Saturday's Challenge Cup quarter-final at Franklin's Gardens

David Ribbans, Nick Isiekwe, Lewis Ludlam and Dan Biggar are among those returning to the starting 15 after recovering from injury.

There are nine changes in all from the team that delivered a 43-39 comeback win in the last-16 clash with the Dragons at Rodney Parade last Saturday.

Paul Hill, Piers Francis and Tommy Freeman were all rested for that game but they start against Ulster

Alex Waller and Sam Matavesi also come in, with Waller and Ludlam co-captaining this weekend.

Ehren Painter, who is among the replacements, is set to make his 50th appearance for Saints.

Owen Franks (foot), George Furbank (calf), Danny Hobbs-Awoyemi (Achilles), Courtney Lawes (pectoral), Matt Proctor (calf), Api Ratuniyarawa (shoulder) and Kayde Sylvester (Achilles) are all sidelined.

Saints: Freeman; Sleightholme, Hutchinson, Francis, Naiyaravoro; Biggar, Mitchell; Waller (cc), Matavesi, Hill; Ribbans, Coles; Isiekwe, Ludlam (cc), Harrison.

Replacements: Haywood, Auterac, Painter, Moon, Wood, James, Tuala, Dingwall.

Ulster: Lowry; Baloucoune, Hume, McCloskey, Stockdale; Burns, Cooney; O'Sullivan, Herring, Moore; O'Connor; Treadwell, Reidy; Murphy (c), Timoney.

Replacements: Andrew, Warwick, O'Toole, Rea, Jones, Mathewson, Madigan, McIlroy.