-
Bradley Davies returns to the Wasps starting XV for Sunday’s visit of Northampton to the Ricoh Arena on Sunday: 15:00 kick-off
-
Saints make four changes following their 29-23 win over Harlequins
-
Samoa scrum-half Kahn Fotuali’i and centre Harry Mallinder both return while lock Christian Day and number eight Sam Dickinson bolster the pack
Wasps joint-captain James Haskell is back from Six Nations duty to face Northampton, but only makes the bench for the meeting of third and fourth.
Wales lock Bradley Davies is recalled by Dai Young for his first appearance since international duty, packing down alongside England international Joe Launchbury.
Thomas Young, George Smith, and Nathan Hughes form the back row trio while scrum-half Craig Hampson, who impressed on his Premiership debut at Newcastle last weekend, starts instead of the injured Dan Robson.
Meanwhile, Northampton have made four changes for this week’s clash, bonus-point try scorer Harry Mallinder wears 12 while Kahn Fotuali’i also comes into the backline at scrum-half.
Second-row Christian Day takes his place in the forwards and Sam Dickinson’s introduction at number eight sees Teimana Harrison and skipper for the day Tom Wood shuffle around the back-row.
KEY STATS
-
Wasps have tallied maximum points from each of their last three matches with their only defeat in Premiership Rugby since early January coming at Gloucester in round 15
-
Dai Youngs side have not lost at Ricoh Arena in any tournament in 2016
-
Saints only loss in the last five rounds of Premiership rugby was at Exeter on March 20
-
Wasps beat Saints 24-11 at Franklin’s Gardens in round ten and have not achieved a season’s Premiership double over the East Midlanders since season 2004/05
-
Northampton have visited Ricoh Arena twice before, both for semi-finals, losing on both occasions, to Wasps in the Champions Cup in 2007 and to Cardiff Blues in the Anglo-Welsh Cup two years later
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Wasps: Jimmy Gopperth
Northampton: George North
Wasps: 15 Rob Miller, 14 Christian Wade, 13 Elliot Daly, 12 Siale Piutau, 11 Frank Halai, 10 Jimmy Gopperth, 9 Craig Hampson, 8 Nathan Hughes, 7 George Smith, 6 Thomas Young, 5 Bradley Davies, 4 Joe Launchbury, 3 Jake Cooper-Woolley, 2 Ashley Johnson, 1 Matt Mullan (c)
Replacements: 16 Carlo Festuccia, 17 Simon McIntyre, 18 Lorenzo Cittadini, 19 Kearnan Myall, 20 James Haskell, 21 Jamie Stevenson, 22 Ruaridh Jackson, 23 Sailosi Tagicakibau
Northampton: 15 Ben Foden, 14 Ken Pisi, 13 George Pisi, 12 Harry Mallinder, 11 George North, 10 Stephen Myler, 9 Kahn Fotuali’i, 8 Sam Dickinson, 7 Teimana Harrison, 6 Tom Wood (c), 5 Christian Day, 4 Courtney Lawes, 3 Kieran Brookes, 2 Mikey Haywood, 1 Alex Waller
Replacements: 16 Reece Marshall, 17 Campese Ma’afu, 18 Paul Hill, 19 James Craig, 20 Jon Fisher, 21 Lee Dickson, 22 JJ Hanrahan, 23 Tom Collins
Date: Sunday, April 3
Venue: Ricoh Arena
Kick-off: 15:00 BST (14:00 GMT)
Referee: Luke Pearce
Assistant Referees: Andrew Jackson, Robin Goodliffe
TMO: Geoff Warren