Saints make two changes for Tigers clash

KEY MAN - Samu Manoa returns to the Saints starting line-up for the game at Leicester (picture by Linda Dawson)

Manoa and Wood replace Christian Day and Calum Clark as Mallinder freshens up his pack for the east midlands showdown at Welford Road.

Day, who limped off during the second half of last week’s 33-14 win against the Sharks, misses the game through injury.

That means Manoa starts in the second row, with Courtney Lawes moving to five and GJ van Velze, who scored a hat-trick for the Wanderers on Monday night, named among the replacements.

Meanwhile, it is set to be a big day for Stephen Myler and Lee Dickson, who will become Aviva Premiership record holders for the most starts as a half-back partnership.

Saturday’s game will be the 59th occasion the two will have started as a pair in the green, black and gold, one ahead of Martyn Wood and current Saints coach Alex King.

Saints: Foden; Elliott, G Pisi, Burrell, North; Myler, L Dickson; Corbisiero, Hartley (c), Mercey, Manoa, Lawes, Wood, Dowson, Dickinson.

Replacements: Haywood, A Waller, Denman, van Velze, Clark, Fotuali’i, Wilson, K Pisi.

Leicester: Scully; Morris, Goneva, Allen, Thompstone; Flood, B Youngs; Mulipola, T Youngs, Cole, Deacon, Kitchener, Slater, Salvi, Crane.

Replacements: Briggs, Stankovich, Balmain, Parling, Waldrom, Mele, Williams, Bowden.