Saints opt to rest international stars against Sale
Saints have opted to rest five of their six Six Nations stars for the Amlin Challenge Cup quarter-final at Sale on Thursday night.
Lee Dickson is the only player who strutted his stuff in the international tournament to start, with George North, Luther Burrell, Tom Wood and Courtney Lawes rested and Dylan Hartley injured.
Saints have made 12 changes from the 22-16 Premiership defeat to Leicester last weekend, with Sam Dickinson, who returns from injury, among those to get a start.
Phil Dowson, Will Hooley and Ben Foden are the only players retained in the first 15 from the Tigers loss, with Dowson captaining the side.
Sale have also opted to leave key players out, with their sights set on a top four finish in the Premiership.
Steve Diamond has only named three of the 15 who beat Saints at the AJ Bell Stadium less than two weeks ago in his starting line-up.
Sale: Arscott; Brady, Forsyth, Jennings, Miller; Macleod, Cliff; Harrison, Taylor, Thomas; Ostrikov, Kulemin; Gaskell (c), Easter, Fahiki
Replacements: Jones, Croall, Buckley, Mills, Paterson, Fowles, Ford, Mackenzie.
Saints: Foden; K Pisi, Wilson, Stephenson, Autagavaia; Hooley, L Dickson; E Waller, Mercey; Dickinson, Craig; Dowson ©, Nutley, van Velze.
Replacements: Williams, Hobbs-Awoyemi, Denman, C Day, Harrison, Fotuali’i, Waldouck, Elliott.