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Plenty going on here. Harry Sloan catches Tom Stephenson with a high one. Saints take a quick penalty, so we'll take a look at that again in a minute.

And Marland Yarde almost gets away on a loose ball, but Northampton scramble their defence successfully. It's simmering nicely.

Northampton survive and Lee Dickson relinquishes the pressure with a kick to touch.

Graham McKechnie
BBC Radio Northampton sports editor

"Harlequins are looking very dangerous at Franklin's Gardens in these early stages."

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Quins fans are used to this sort of thing this season. They've had sustained pressure in the Saints 22, but just can't find the killer ball. They're still poking away though.

Marland Yarde is in a perky mood. The catch and drive comes to an end but the winger takes it on and is just stopped short by Alex Waller.

Quins get a free-kick at the scrum - but they opt to return to the scrum.

It almost works a treat as Nick Evans dinks a grubber through and Marland Yarde can't quite get his hands to it while trying to beat his man. They get a line-out though.

Samu Manoa is such a beast isn't he? He provides an offload while being tackled by three men.

Shame there was a knock-on in there somewhere.

Nick Evans' clearance is not great - it barely goes forwards. But Marland Yarde does superbly to gather it and Quins finally get rid of it.

A chance for Northampton, who win a free-kick at the scrum. They get moving quickly, but Lee Dickson knocks on.

No sweat at the line-out for Quins, but Ugo Monye makes a mess of getting under a high kick.

And Saints earn a scrum in the Quins 22.

We're underway from the boot of Nick Evans, and Saints send it back where it came from, with James Wilson putting a great kick into touch in Quins territory.

Game time is nearly upon us, but remember, our live text commentary is complemented this evening by radio commentary from BBC Radio Northampton.

You can listen by using on the audio icon or by clicking the 'Live Coverage' tab, where you can also watch Pro12 action as Ulster play Scarlets and Ospreys host Leinster.

Harlequins: Monye; Yarde, Hopper, Sloan, Walker; Evans, Dickson; Lambert, Ward, Sinckler, Matthews, Robson (capt), Clifford, Wallace, Talei.

Replacements: Buchanan, Marfo, Shields, Twomey, Trayfoot, Tebaldi, Botica, Lindsay-Hague.

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Netani Talei only joined Harlequins on Wednesday, and he's straight into the side at number eight.

The Fijian fills the experienced gap left by Nick Easter's England involvement.

Karl Dickson starts at scrum-half in place of Danny Care, who misses out with a calf strain.

And Harry Sloan replaces the concussed Tom Casson at inside centre while, scrum-half Tito Tebaldi will make his first senior appearance for Quins should he feature from the bench.

Northampton Saints: Wilson; K Pisi, G Pisi, Stephenson, Elliott; Myler, Dickson (capt); Waller, Haywood, Denman, Lawes, Day, Manoa, Clark, Dickinson.

Replacements: Williams, Corbisiero, Mercey, Wood, Dowson, Fotuali'i, Olver, Olver, Tuala.

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Northampton Saints have been served up two portions of good injury news.

England lock Courtney Lawes has recovered from the ankle injury he suffered in March, so he plays, and skipper Tom Wood is on the bench after his own ankle problem.

It's good news for England coach Stuart Lancaster, who hopes the pair can get some match action before featuring in the Six Nations.

Right then, less than 10 minutes until kick-off. So let's get some team news and take a look at the line-ups.

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Five teams in the hunt for the top four are separated by just one point. Wasps are at the bottom of that pile, but you'd be brave to bet against them.

Especially since they bolstered their scrum-half options this week with All Black World Cup winner Piri Weepu, who is on the bench.

Gloucester, unfortunately, have been the best of the rest, and well off the play-off and European pace.

They have winger Jonny May to call on though, having been dropped by England

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Exeter have never beaten Bath in the league. But here's an incentive - they could go above the Rec side with a win.

Bath need to get back on track after their uninspiring loss to runaway leaders Northampton.

Exeter fly-half Henry Slade keeps his place after impressing in the win over Harlequins last week.

Bath bring in a new front row of Nick Auterac, Ross Batty and Kane Palma-Newport for the trip to Sandy Park.

Matthew Williams:, external Expand the Premiership to 14 teams, 2 up 2 down and fund the Championship properly. No relegation = no successes like Exeter Chiefs.

James Gallagher:, external Whoever loses tonight shouldn't get too emotional and upset because boys don't cry.

Someone knows their Cure back catalogue, hey James? A reminder too that as well as this evening's action we would like your thoughts on the plan that emerged today to expand the Premiership and scrap promotion and relegation.