The 21-year-old, who has two senior caps to his name, graduated from the club’s Academy in the summer and earns an opportunity in the centre outside Max Ojomoh.

While Butt is set for his first league outing, Josh Bayliss is at Number 8 for his 50^th Premiership appearance and lines up in a back row which has one change from last week’s home match with Exeter Chiefs. Tom Ellis comes in at blindside flanker with Sam Underhill retaining the seven jersey.

The pack is otherwise unchanged as Lewis Boyce, Tom Dunn and Will Stuart combine in the front row for the second game running. Captain Charlie Ewels and Josh McNally make up the second row.

Ben Spencer picked up the Pol Roger Performance of the Match on his return to the side and will get the chance to partner Danny Cipriani at half-back for just the second time this season.

The back three remains the same with Tom de Glanville, Will Muir and Semesa Rokoduguni playing as a trio for the sixth time in the 2021/22 campaign.

On the bench there is a six-two split. Mike Williams returns from suspension while Richard de Carpentier, Ewan Richards, Ollie Fox and Gabriel Hamer-Webb also come back into the 23.

Orlando Bailey, Ruaridh McConnochie and Jonathan Joseph are all carrying slight knocks. Tom Doughty, Max Clark, Miles Reid, Juan Schoeman, Taulupe Faletau, Cameron Redpath, Tian Schoeman, Joe Cokanasiga, Ethan Staddon, Jaco Coetzee, Anthony Watson and Beno Obano are also unavailable due to injury.

BATH RUGBY TEAM TO PLAY NORTHAMPTON SAINTS

The opposition

15 George Furbank, 14 Tommy Freeman, 13 Fraser Dingwall, 12 Rory Hutchinson, 11 Courtnall Skosan, 10 Dan Biggar, 9 Alex Mitchell; 1 Alex Waller, 2 Sam Matavesi, 3 Ehren Painter, 4 David Ribbans, 5 Alex Moon, 6 Karl Wilkins, 7 Lewis Ludlam (c), 8 Juarno Augustus

Replacements

16 James Fish, 17 Nick Auterac, 18 Paul Hill, 19 Api Ratuniyarawa, 20 Alex Coles, 21 Tom James, 22 Tom Litchfield. 23 Ollie Sleightholme

Butt set for Premiership debut at Franklin's Gardens

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