England back row Tom Wood returns to captain Northampton in the Saints’ only change for Friday’s Champions Cup play-off against Stade Francais.
The 30-year-old, who missed the play off semi final win over Connach with a back injury picked up against Harlequins earlier this month, replaces Jamie Gibson at open-side flanker.
He is joined in the back row by Louis Picamoles and Teimana Harrison.
Captain Sergio Parisse will miss the match for Stade Francais.
However the French team are strengthened by the return of Australian scrum-half Will Genia.
France international Jules Plisson is preferred to Springbok rival Morne Steyn at fly-half, while prop Rabah Slimani is on the bench.
South African Jonathan Ross, who will join Sale at the start of next season, comes in to replace Parisse at number eight.
Victory will assure Northampton of a fifth successive season of top-flight European rugby. Saints finished bottom of their pool, behind Leinster, Montpellier and Castres this campaign.
There will be increased seciruty at Franklin’s Gardens after the terrorist attack at Manchester Arena on Monday.
bbc sports
