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Phil Dowson has made eight changes to his Northampton Saints side for their Investec Champions Cup game against Bayonne on Friday.

Northampton, who are top of the Premiership, have won 10 out of their past 11 matches.

Winger Tommy Freeman returns to the starting XV following the victory at Exeter and joins captain George Furbank in the back three.

Scrum-half Alex Mitchell comes back into the side to partner Fin Smith.

Following his hat-trick in the 42-36 victory at Exeter, Ollie Sleightholme retains his spot on the wing.

The 23-year-old said this week that the Saints are determined to continue their form in Europe, after winning their opening two games against Glasgow Warriors and Toulon to sit top of Pool 3.

Bayonne, who are debutants in the Champions Cup, have failed to win so far in the competition, drawing against Munster before a narrow one-point defeat by Glasgow.

December's Premiership player of the month, Courtney Lawes, also returns to the starting line-up and joins Tom Pearson and Sam Graham in the back row.

Prop Alex Waller also returns from injury to start in the front row alongside Curtis Langdon and Trevor Davison.

Northampton's final game of Pool 3 is away to Munster on 20 January.

Northampton Saints: Furbank (capt); Freeman, Dingwall, Hutchinson, Sleightholme; Smith, Mitchell; Waller, Langdon, Davison, Mayanavanua, Coles, Lawes, Pearson, Graham.

Replacements: Matavesi, Iyogun, Millar-Mills, Moon, Augustus, Scott-Young, James, Litchfield.

Bayonne: Callandret; Megdoud, Tiberghien, Buliruarua, Baget; Dolhagaray, Machenaud; Cormenier, Bosch, Tatafu, Marchois (capt), Leindekar, Bourdeau, Heguy, Bruni.

Replacements: Giudicelli, Perchaud, Cotet, Paulos, Cassiem, Labarbe, Spring, Lestrade.

Referee: Mike Adamson (Sco)