Northampton Saints v Leicester Tigers team news for Gallagher Prem semi final

Northampton Saints and Leicester Tigers have named their squads for their Gallagher Prem semi final clash on Friday night, with big names returning for both sides.

Northampton, who topped the Gallagher Prem standings with a match to spare, meaning that they were afforded the ability to rotate for last weekend's defeat at Harlequins, resting players for Friday's vital semi final.

Contrastingly, the Tigers headed into last weekend's fixture at Bath as a straight shootout for second place in the table - and a home semi final - ultimately falling short and finishing fourth in the table due to Exeter's win over Saracens, setting up this fixture.

Both sides won the home version of this fixture earlier in the season, with this contest set to be decided on a knife's edge.

Check out our combined Leicester Tigers and Northampton Saints all-time XV on site.

The Saints, who will be without Trevor Davison, Alex Mitchell, Henry Lumley, Ollie Sleightholme, Freddie St John, Edoardo Todaro and Charlie Ulcoq for Friday's semi final, welcome the return of a number of key players.

George Furbank will captain the side from full back, joined in the back three by George Hendy and Tommy Freeman, whilst Tom Litchfield will partner Rory Hutchinson in the centres.

Archie McParland continues at nine in the absence of Mitchell, partnering Fin Smith at half back.

In the pack, 19 year-old Emmanuel Iyogun is named to start - in what will be his 100th Saints match - alongside Curtis Langdon and the outgoing Elliot Millar Mills in the front row.

Alex Coles and Ed Prowse make up the second row, with Josh Kemeny, Tom Pearson and Henry Pollock named as the back row. In what is expected to be a physical contest, Phil Dowson has named a 6-2 bench split.

For the Tigers, Geoff Parling has received a significant boost ahead of Friday night, with Gallagher Prem team of the season members Freddie Steward and Billy Searle both available for selection.

Steward joins Adam Radwan and Ollie Hassall-Collins in a tried and tested back three, with young Englishmen Will Wand and Orlando Bailey continuing to keep Solomone Kata and Izaia Perese out of the centres - with both named on the bench.

Searle is partnered by Jack van Poortvliet at half back, capping off an all-English backline.

Outgoing loosehead prop Nicky Smith is named in the front row, alongside usual partners Jamie Blamire and Joe Heyes.

George Martin returns to the second row, next to captain Ollie Chessum, with Hanro Liebenberg, Tommy Reffell and Joaquin Moro named as the back row.

Cameron Henderson and Olly Cracknell, who started last weekend, drop to the bench.

Northampton Saints team news

Starting XV: 15 George Furbank (c), 14 Tommy Freeman, 13 Tom Litchfield, 12 Rory Hutchinson, 11 George Hendy, 10 Fin Smith, 9 Archie McParland; 1 Emmanuel Iyogun, 2 Curtis Langdon, 3 Elliot Millar Mills, 4 Alex Coles, 5 Ed Prowse, 6 Josh Kemeny, 7 Tom Pearson, 8 Henry Pollock.

Substitutes: 16 Craig Wright, 17 Danilo Fischetti, 18 Luke Green, 19 JJ Van Der Mescht, 20 Tom Lockett, 21 Callum Chick, 22 Jonny Weimann, 23 Fraser Dingwall.

Leicester Tigers team news

Starting XV: 15 Freddie Steward, 14 Adam Radwan, 13 Will Wand, 12 Orlando Bailey, 11 Ollie Hassall-Collins, 10 Billy Searle, 9 Jack van Poortvliet; 1 Nicky Smith, 2 Jamie Blamire, 3 Joe Heyes, 4 George Martin, 5 Ollie Chessum (c), 6 Hanro Liebenberg, 7 Tommy Reffell, 8 Joaquin Moro.

Substitutes: 16 Charlie Clare, 17 Archie van der Flier, 18 Will Hurd, 19 Cameron Henderson, 20 Olly Cracknell, 21 Tom Whiteley, 22 Solomone Kata, 23 Izaia Perese.