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Premiership: Tommy Freeman back for Northampton Saints against depleted Exeter Chiefs side

Northampton are boosted by the return of duo Tommy Freeman and Courtnall Skosan for their Premiership clash with Exeter on Friday.

Phil Dowson makes five changes in total to his starting XV, with scrum-half Alex Mitchell also set to make his 100th appearance for the club via the bench.

Saints have lost just once on home soil in all competitions since Exeter Chiefs last visited Franklin’s Gardens in February, but with five of the last six meetings between Northampton and Exeter being decided by less than a score, supporters will expect another nail-biting encounter under the Friday Night Lights.

Centre Fraser Dingwall leads out Northampton with Rory Hutchinson also keeping his place in midfield after catching the eye last time out against Bristol.

Freeman returns at full-back

But England international Freeman returns at full-back for Saints with Skosan also recalled to start on the opposite wing to the in-form Ollie Sleightholme – who has bagged six tries in seven appearances in the Premiership so far this term.

Tom James is selected from the start at scrum-half and partners number 10 Fin Smith for the first time, with the 20-year-old fly-half hoping to build on an impressive debut which saw him slot six kicks at goal without missing the target.

In the pack, tighthead prop Ehren Painter makes his first Premiership start of the season, and partners loosehead Emmanuel Iyogun and hooker Mike Haywood in the front-row.

Northampton are unchanged in the engine room as Lukhan Salakaia-Loto and Alex Moon continue, but Angus Scott-Young comes into the back-row to join Aaron Hinkley and Sam Graham – with the latter switching across into the number eight jersey.

Meanwhile, Exeter boss Rob Baxter has been forced into change due to injuries and international call-ups ahead of this week’s clash.

Missing through Test duty are the following: Luke Cowan-Dickie, Jack Nowell, Sam Simmonds and Henry Slade (all England), Jonny Gray and Stuart Hogg (both Scotland), Christ Tshiunza (Wales) and Santiago Grondona (Argentina).

Whilst new additions to the injury list include Harvey Skinner, Richard Capstick and Stu Townsend, the latter two of whom have undergone shoulder surgery this week and are sidelined until the New Year.

Into the side for the Saints clash come Jack Dunne, Joe Simmonds and Dan John, whilst there is a welcome return on the bench for Welsh lock Daffyd Jenkins for the first time since injuring himself in the away game at Sale Sharks last month.

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Jenkins is joined on the bench by highly-promising Exeter University back Will Becconsall, who has impressed in several outing for the Chiefs in the Premiership Rugby Cup and friendlies this season.

The teams:

Northampton Saints: 15 Tommy Freeman, 14 Courtnall Skosan, 13 Fraser Dingwall (c), 12 Rory Hutchinson, 11 Ollie Sleightholme, 10 Fin Smith, 9 Tom James, 8 Sam Graham, 7 Aaron Hinkley, 6 Angus Scott-Young, 5 Alex Moon, 4 Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, 3 Ehren Painter, 2 Mike Haywood, 1 Emmanuel Iyogun
Replacements: 16 Robbie Smith, 17 Alex Waller, 18 Paul Hill, 19 Brandon Nansen, 20 Kayde Sylvester, 21 Alex Mitchell, 22 George Furbank, 23 Matt Proctor

Exeter Chiefs: 15 Josh Hodge, 14 Dan John, 13 Rory O’Loughlin, 12 Ian Whitten, 11 Olly Woodburn, 10 Joe Simmonds, 9 Jack Maunder, 8 Jacques Vermeulen, 7 Lewis Pearson, 6 Dave Ewers, 5 Ruben Van Heerden, 4 Jack Dunne, 3 Harry Williams, 2 Jack Yeandle (c), 1 Scott Sio
Replacements: 16 Jack Innard, 17 Alec Hepburn, 18 Josh Iosefa-Scott, 19 Dafydd Jenkins, 20 Rus Tuima, 21 Sam Maunder, 22 Will Becconsall, 23 Sean O’Brien

Date: Friday, November 4
Venue: cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens
Kick-off: 19:45 GMT
Referee: Craig Maxwell-Keys
Assistant Referees: Mike Hudson, Jamie Leahy
TMO: Dean Richards