Hand injury keeps Dylan Hartley out of Aviva Premiership game against Bath

Northampton Saints will be without their skipper Dylan Hartley for their home game against Bath at Franklin's Gardens on Friday.

Hartley's place in the squad has been taken by Mikey Haywood while his England team-mate Courtney Lawes will lead the side in the absence of the 31-year-old.

The England captain, who scored a try in Northampton's 24-11 win over Leicester Tigers last weekend is suffering from a hand injury but is expected to resume training next week along with Tom Wood (shoulder injury).

Bath will head into the game brimming with confidence following the wins over Leicester Tigers and Saracens and rugby director Todd Blackadder has challenged the team to maintain their momentum against Northampton.

"I think it's an exciting challenge," said Blackadder.

"They (Northampton) are a good team, and our challenge is to keep replicating the same performance.

"We need to go there and start really physical, and if we do that then the mindset will be right. We have got to turn up mentally."

Changes from the side that accounted for Saracens include starts for Bath's ex-Northampton scrum-half Kahn Fotuali'i and England international flanker Sam Underhill, who makes a first-team debut after joining from the Ospreys.

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