Wood: Back from World Cup

Soane Tonga'uiha and Vasily Artemyev both returned to the club last week after their commitments to Tonga and Russia finished at the end of the World Cup group stage.

England's early departure from New Zealand means that Tom Wood, who starts, Dylan Hartley and Courtney Lawes have also been included in the squad.

There is also a place for Senior Academy back Jamie Elliott, who will make his first start of the season.

Jamie George captains a Saracens side that sees Kameli Ratuvou return to action for the first time in nearly a year after a knee injury.

The Fiji international makes up the centre pairing with Adam Powell with Nils Mordt and Ben Spencer forming the half-back partnership.

In the forwards, Hugh Vyvyan makes his first start of the season in a pack that also includes Deon Carstens, Andy Saull and Justin Melck.

Northampton: Tonks, Elliott, Armstrong, May, Artemyev, Lamb, Roberts, Waller, Haywood, Mercey, Craig, Sorenson, Wood, Nutley, Wilson.

Replacements: Hartley, Tonga'uiha, Doran Jones, Lawes, Eustace, Dickson, Myler, Sempere.

Saracens: Ransom, Maddock, Ratuvou, Powell, Taylor, Mordt, Spencer, Carstens, George, du Plessis, Kruis, Vyvyan, Melck, Saull, Wray.

Replacements: Allen, Auterac, Vunipola, Smith, Fraser, Baldwin, Penney, Short.