Preview: Northampton Saints vs. Saracens

Northampton Saints have good reason to be smug this weekend when Chris Ashton returns to Franklin's Gardens for the first time with new club Saracens.

The Saints are currently top of the Aviva Premiership table with five wins from their first six matches, while Sarries sit two points worse off in fourth place.

The hosts are unbeaten in their last five games at home in all competitions, but their opponents have triumphed on the road on the last three occasions.

Northampton have made three changes for the clash as Paul Doran Jones, Mark Sorenson and GJ Van Velze all come into the side.

Meanwhile, David Strettle, Joel Tomkins and Alistair Hargreaves all start for Saracens.

Recent form:

Northampton: WWWLWL

Saracens: DLWLWW

Lineups:

Northampton: Myler, K Pisi, G Pisi, Waldouck, Artemyev, Lamb, Dickson, Van Velze, Wood, Dowson, Sorenson, Lawes, Doran Jones, Hartley, Tonga'uiha Replacements: Haywood, Waller, Mujati, Manoa, Oakley, Roberts, May, Burrell

Saracens: Goode, Ashton, Tomkins, Barritt, Strettle, Farrell, De Kock, Wray, Fraser, Brown, Hargreaves, Borthwick, Stevens, Brits, Vunipola Replacements: Smit, Auterac, Nieto, Botha, Joubert, Wigglesworth, Hodgson, Wyles

Sports Mole says: Northampton to edge a close encounter