'Hugely competitive Premiership' doesn't surprise Saints coach King

Northampton Saints assistant coach Alex King isn't surprised that no club has gone through the first five games of the Aviva Premiership season undefeated.

The defending champions lost at Wasps in their second game of the campaign, while last season's beaten Play-off finalists Saracens, surrendered their unbeaten record at Bath last Friday (October 3).

And the competitiveness of the division so far this season has impressed King and company at Franklin's Gardens.

The Saints defend a one point lead going into Saturday's (October 11) home contest with Sale.

There's a notable change to the Saints starting line-up for Saturday, with Welsh International winger George North dropping to the replacements bench allowing Jamie Elliott to make his first appearance of the season.

The 22 year old played for the Wanderers in their Aviva A-League game against Bristol last Monday (October 6).

England international Tom Wood is also back, and will skipper the side. Club Captain Dylan Hartley will start on the bench having missed last week's win at London Irish, while Mike Haywood keeps his place in the front row.

Meanwhile, Saints trio Kahn Fotuali'i, George Pisi and Ken Pisi have all been called up by Samoa for their fixtures against Italy and Canada.