Gallagher Premiership briefing: Team news and statistics
Get team news, head-to-head statistics and more ahead of the latest Gallagher Premiership acti
Friday, September 28
Newcastle (10) v Wasps (3)
Newcastle are bolstered by the returns of wings Vereniki Goneva and Sinoti Sinoti for Wasps' visit to Kingston Park. Goneva has been sidelined for a fortnight due to injury, while Sinoti missed last week's defeat against Exeter. There is also a start for Fiji international lock Tevita Cavubati.
Wasps rugby director Dai Young has made six changes from the side that beat Sale Sharks last weekend, including first starts of the season for winger Marcus Watson, scrum-half Joe Simpson and flanker Ben Morris. Elliot Daly, Dan Robson and Nathan Hughes are all on the bench after being involved in an England training camp earlier this week, while full-back Rob Miller replaces Willie Le Roux, who is on Test duty with South Africa.
Last season: Newcastle 22 Wasps 39, Wasps 40 Newcastle 10
Last six league matches: Newcastle W L L L W L Wasps W W W L W W
Top try scorers: Mark Wilson (Newcastle) 3; Josh Bassett & Nathan Hughes (Wasps) 3
Top points scorers: Toby Flood (Newcastle) 39; Lima Sopoaga (Wasps) 31
Saturday, September 29
Bristol (8) v Northampton (11)
Bristol make two enforced changes with Jack Lam replacing hamstring-injury victim Jordan Crane at number eight and Joe Latta recovering from a shoulder issue to come in for Chris Vui, who has a groin problem.
Ehren Painter comes in at prop for Northampton while Luther Burrell starts at outside centre in only two changes made by Saints.
Last season: No Corresponding fixture
Last six league matches: Bristol L L W L L W Northampton L W L W L L
Top try scorers: Alapati Leiua (Bristol) 3; Piers Francis & Dylan Hartley (Northampton) 2
Top goal scorers: Ian Madigan (Bristol) 35; Dan Biggar (Northampton) 40
Exeter (2) v Worcester (9)
Exeter have rested England trio Luke Cowan-Dickie, Don Armand and Henry Slade, but Jack Nowell comes on to the right wing after missing the Newcastle game as precaution due to the Falcons' 4G pitch.
Ben Te'o remains sidelined for Worcester after suffering a calf injury to add to his thigh problem. Worcester make six changes following their remarkable win at Leicester, among them Jono Lance starting at fly-half.
Last season: Exeter 5 Worcester 6, Worcester 10 Exeter 41
Last six league matches: Exeter W W W W W W Worcester W L L L L W
Top try scorers: Sam Simmonds (Exeter) 5; Duncan Weir (Worcester) 3
Top goal scorers: Gareth Steenson (Exeter) 28; Duncan Weir (Worcester) 47
Gloucester (5) v Harlequins (6)
Jason Woodward, Billy Twelvetrees and Callum Braley drop to the bench for Gloucester, while Ben Morgan starts at number eight in place of Ruan Ackermann, who has a knee injury.
Joe Marler, who announced his England retirement this week, starts at prop. Mike Brown recovers from a wrist injury at full-back while James Horwill is back after a neck problem.
Last season: Gloucester 37 Harlequins 9, Harlequins 28 Gloucester 17
Last six league matches: Gloucester L L W D W L Harlequins L L W L L L
Top try scorers: Charlie Sharples (Gloucester) 4; Danny Care (Harlequins) 3
Top goal scorers: Billy Twelvetrees (Gloucester) 43; Marcus Smith (Harlequins) 42
Saracens (1) v Bath (4)
Billy Vunipola is restored at number eight for Saracens after completing a pre-arranged medical procedure that forced him out last weekend. Nick Isiekwe and Jackson Wray also feature in the back row, meaning Maro Itoje reverts to lock.
Bath are lifted by the return of Francois Louw from South Africa Rugby Championship duty. Wing Joe Cokanasiga and lock Dave Attwood drop out of the 23 while Rhys Priestland starts at fly-half.
Last season: Saracens 41 Bath 6, Bath 31 Saracens 21
Last six league matches: Saracens W W W W W W Bath W W L D W W
Top try scorers: Alex Lewington (Saracens) 5; Joe Cokanasiga (Bath) 3
Top goal scorers: Owen Farrell (Saracens) 39; Freddie Burns (Bath) 26
Sunday, September 30
Leicester (7) v Sale (12)
Manu Tuilagi's hamstring injury has created an opportunity for Kyle Eastmond at inside centre for Leicester, who replace ankle-injury victim Ben Youngs with Ben White.
Russia lock Andrei Ostrikov plays his first game of the season for Sale, while Rob Webber returns at hooker and Josh Strauss at number eight.
Last season: Sale 13 Leicester 35, Leicester 35 Sale 27
Last six league matches: Leicester L W L W L L Sale L L L W L L
Top try scorers: Johnny May (Leicester) 5; Marland Yarde (Sale) 2
Top goal scorers: George Ford (Leicester) 67; Alan MacGinty (Sale) 45
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