Matt Proctor and Owen Franks could both make their Northampton Saints debuts off the bench during Sunday's Heineken Champions Cup opener against Lyon.

England trio Courtney Lawes, Lewis Ludlam and Piers Francis return to the side after playing at the World Cup.

Former Sale and Bath number eight Carl Fearns will start for the visitors, who lead the way in the Top 14 table.

The French side have won eight of their nine league games this season, losing just once.

Saints director of rugby Chris Boyd has made six changes to the side that lost away at Bath, with Wales' Dan Biggar and South African World Cup winner Cobus Reinach among those returning from Japan.

Co-captains Alex Waller and Teimana Harrison will lead the side, who return to the Champions Cup on the 20th anniversary of their only European title.

Northampton: Furbank; Collins, Hutchinson, Francis, Naiyaravoro; Biggar, Reinach; Waller, Haywood, Painter, Ribbans, Lawes, Wood, Ludlam, Harrison

Replacements: Fish, Van Wyk, Franks, Ratuniyarawa, Gibson, Mitchell, Proctor, Tuala

Lyon: Buttin; Tuisova, Barassi, Ngatai, Nakaitaci; Fernandez, Pelissie; Chaume, Maurouard, Ric, Geraci, Goujon, Gill, Sobela, Fearns

Replacements: Ivaldi, Kaabeche, Bamba, Roodt, Bruni, Couilloud, Wisniewski, Regard