Former All Black centre Matt Proctor comes into the Northampton starting XV to face Racing 92 in the opening match of the Saints' European campaign.

Nick Auterac and Api Ratuniyarawa come in to the front and second row respectively in the other two changes.

England international Courtney Lawes is left out after an enforced rest week meant he missed the win over Bath.

Wing Taqele Naiyaravoro and back row Teimana Harrison are absent as they continue to recover from long-term injuries.

Flanker Lewis Ludlam captains the hosts with South African number eight Juarno Augustus alongside him in the back row. Tom Wood is named on the bench and could make his return from injury.

French giants Racing, who have finished as runners-up in the tournament on three occasions, have named a star-studded line-up with Scotland's Finn Russell at 10.

Russell has an all-French midfield outside him in Gael Fickou and Virimi Vakatawa, while Wallaby full-back Kurtley Beale, Argentine veteran Juan Imhoff and France's Teddy Thomas comprise the back three.

Racing scored more points and more tries than any other team in the Champions Cup last season despite being knocked out in the last eight.

The Parisians averaged 38 points and more than four tries a game in their 2020-21 campaign.

Northampton: Furbank; Freeman, Dingwall, Hutchinson, Skosan; Biggar, Mitchell; Waller, Matavesi, Painter, Ribbans, Moon, Wilkins, Ludlam (capt), Augustus.

Replacements: Fish, Auterac, Hill, Ratuniyarawa, Coles, James, Litchfield, Sleightholme.

Racing 92: Beale; Thomas, Vakatawa, Fickou (c), Imhoff; Russell, Machenaud; Gogichashvili, Baubigny, Oz; Jones, Le Roux; Diallo, Lauret, Tanga.

Replacements: Chat, Ben Arous, Gomes Sa, Bresler, Chouzenoux, Gibert, Chavancy, Taofifenua.

View from both camps

Northampton director of rugby Chris Boyd: "We know it's a massive task - they're chock-full of quality individuals and we'll have to impose some stoic British resistance over them to be in the game. We're still patchy, but we are being a little bit more clinical with the opportunities we take, which gives us a little bit more breathing space."

Racing 92 director of rugby Laurent Travers: "Titles are etched into you for life - so being able to win a European title is exceptional. We'd like to get a star on our shirts and our hands on the trophy, because after three finals and three losses in the final, we are so keen and hungry to lead this campaign."

Match facts

Match officials

Referee: Mike Adamson (Sco)

Touch judges: Ben Blain and Ian Kenny (Sco)

TMO: Hollie Davidson (Sco)