Northampton coach Wayne Smith has rung the changes for Saturday's Zurich Premiership clash against leaders Gloucester in the wake of the pre-Christmas Powergen Cup shocker at Second Division Orrell.

But while Smith welcomes back a clutch of international stars, there is one conspicuous absentee from the starting line-up.

Inspirational New Zealander Andrew Blowers was injured during the Orrell sixth round tie - a game that Saints won 55-44 by scoring 21 points late in extra-time - and misses out this weekend.

Rob Hunter moves to the back row as his replacement, and Ben Cohen, John Leslie, Paul Grayson, Tom Smith, Steve Thompson and skipper Budge Pountney are among nine players returning for Gloucester's visit.

Northampton are still smarting from a sub-standard effort against Orrell, so Gloucester, currently five points clear of the chasing pack, must expect an initial Franklin's Gardens backlash.

"Orrell were up for it and committed, but our performance was nothing short of a disgrace, really," said Grayson, Saints' former England fly-half.

"We are meant to be professionals, but we did not play like professionals."

A Northampton victory would take them into the top three, but matters at the Premiership table's opposite end will concern Bath this weekend.

Despite an impressive Powergen Cup victory over Wasps and back-to-back Parker Pen Challenge Cup successes against Bridgend, Bath are not firing on the domestic league front.

The six-times English champions have slipped to 11th place, just two points above basement club Newcastle, which makes Saturday's home appointment with Harlequins a must-win encounter.

Bath hope to field Iain Balshaw at full-back, despite the 14 times-capped England international giving them a fresh injury scare.

Balshaw, who has scored four tries in three comeback games since undergoing shoulder surgery, went off during the cup win against Wasps six days ago.

But a precautionary scan on his troublesome shoulder revealed no major damage, and he could be available as Bath look to avoid a third successive Premiership defeat.

Newcastle have named England star Jonny Wilkinson in a 24-man squad for Sunday's trip to London Irish.

Wilkinson, sidelined since suffering a shoulder injury during England's record 53-3 triumph against South Africa five weeks ago, could feature, although a final decision on his fitness will be made on Saturday.

Newcastle, knocked out of the cup by an Irish late show last weekend, also include new signings Mark Mayerhofler and Craig Newby as they target a quickfire revenge mission.

Falcons' fellow sixth-round cup casualties, Sale Sharks, make the trip to Bristol Shoguns on Sunday, where the home side are reeling following a shock home defeat in the same competition by Rotherham.

And Sunday's other Premiership encounter is at Vicarage Road, where second-placed Leeds will be looking to repeat last season's away win against an erratic Saracens outfit.