Northampton Saints rotate their squad for sell-out East Midlands derby while challenging for two major titles, with Leicester Tigers naming a powerful side for their must-win match

Northampton have ignited the countdown to another blood-and-thunder East Midlands derby by rotating their squad for the sell-out clash with Leicester, which could confirm a profound shift in the local balance of power.

When the Saints’ line-up was announced, it became apparent that director of rugby Phil Dowson had opted to manage his players load, with some eye-catching selections. England full-back George Furbank will line up at No 10 – as he has done for club and country before – as Fin Smith is restricted to a bench role, along with Tommy Freeman. Courtney Lawes is not in the match-day 23 at all.

This is an indication of the careful balancing act for Northampton over the next month or so, as they challenge for major titles on two fronts. The experience and influence of Lawes may be needed against Harlequins at Twickenham next weekend – and it will be absolutely essential for the titanic Champions Cup semi-final showdown with Leinster at Croke Park in Dublin on May 5.

Yet, before those marquee fixtures comes a derby encounter loaded with layers of significance, as always. There will be a full house of 15,153 at Franklin’s Gardens as the fierce rivals lock horns yet again. Northampton are desperate to win, to leave themselves all but assured of a home semi-final in the Premiership, while a heavy defeat for Leicester would virtually extinguish their own hopes of a top-four finish.

The Tigers know it is more or less win-or-bust, so they will make the short journey with a powerful side. Dan Cole will make a club-record 235th league appearance for Leicester, beating the mark set by fellow prop Graham Rowntree.

Freddie Steward is on the wing, Tommy Reffell is back for an openside duel with Lewis Ludlam and Jack van Poortvliet will go toe to toe with the man who has usurped him as England’s first-choice scrum-half, Jack van Poortvliet. Argentina captain Julian Montoya faces an intriguing match-up with home hooker Curtis Langdon, who is playing himself into contention for a Test call-up.

Northampton lost the reverse fixture at Welford Road 26-17 last November, but they have enjoyed a long period of home rule – winning the last 10 games in all competitions at their own ground. They lead the Premiership on 49 points, some 10 ahead of the Tigers, who are seventh. They have a prime opportunity at the business end of this season to burst out of Leicester’s shadow.

It is 10 years since Northampton’s sole league triumph, whereas Leicester have achieved the feat nine times – most recently in 2022. The Tigers have also won the top European event twice, compared to one Saints’ triumph. There is a gulf between the neighbours on the honours boards, but it could be reduced soon.

This rivalry does not just come down to a contrast between the respective haul of trophies and medals, it is a primal, tribal sporting volcano. In a newspaper column in 2014, former Leicester and England back Austin Healey said: ‘These clubs detest each other’ and referred to an early encounter with the Saints in his own career as ‘just one long fight’.

He added: ‘Northampton have got a chip on their shoulder about Leicester. The fact that Leicester have been hugely successful gets to them. They have always had aspirations to become Leicester.’

Perhaps that wish could become a reality soon, but if the Saints want to eclipse their rivals then they will have to front up. This is not a fixture for the faint-hearted. The intensity and passion has often boiled over.

Between 2011 and 2015, 10 Premiership clashes between these familiar foes yielded a staggering tally of 15 yellow and five red cards. It became a roll-call of mayhem and violence.

In 2011, Manu Tuilagi was banned after a three-punch assault on his soon-to-be England team-mate Chris Ashton in a play-off at Welford Road. The following year, Saints flanker Calum Clark was hit with a mammoth 32-week suspension after breaking the elbow of Leicester hooker in the LV Cup Final. That ugly incident which led to a bust-up in the Sixways car park between rival coaches and former Tigers hookers Richard Cockerill and Dorian West.

When the clubs met in the 2013 final at Twickenham, Northampton captain Dylan Hartley was sent off for dissent as Leicester won 37-17. Almost a year on, Tom Wood’s last-gasp try went straight into Saints folklore as they fought back to beat their sworn enemies 21-20, after Salesi Ma’afu was sent off for punching Tom Youngs.

There has been less volatility during the intervening period when neither side have been in the mix for honours. But with Northampton now up on a pedestal – top of the Premiership and also gunning for cross-border glory – the Tigers will be hell-bent on turning them over, especially if they choose to interpret squad rotation as a sign of excessive confidence, even complacency.

In the absence of Lawes, Ludlam and others will need to meet the visitors’ onslaught head-on. The packed stands will witness fervour and fireworks. This is arguably the greatest derby in English rugby and a typically explosive next instalment awaits.