Alex Lewington is poised to play his 100th game for Saracens when they visit fellow Heineken Champions Cup contenders Gloucester Rugby in the Gallagher Premiership on Friday.

The wing has featured 15 times in the Heineken Champions Cup, scoring four tries, including one in Saracens’ 30-26 win at home to Edinburgh Rugby in the opening round of this season’s competition.

Saracens have also triumphed 28-20 at Lyon to cement themselves as one of the early leaders in Pool A and they resume their campaign a week on Saturday, when they welcome the TOP 14 side to StoneX Stadium.

In their final domestic game before that Round 3 contest, the three-time EPCR champions have made six changes to their starting XV.

Lewington comes in alongside a fresh midfield pairing of Alex Lozowski and Duncan Taylor, with Aled Davies recalled at scrum-half, while lock Hugh Tizard and flanker Ben Earl return in the pack.

Meanwhile, Gloucester, who face a stern test in Round 3 as they host Pool A leaders Leinster Rugby a week on Saturday, have made five alterations to their starting team.

Prop Val Rapava-Ruskin and hooker George McGuigan return to the front row, Freddie Clarke comes in at lock and the inclusion of Ben Morgan at No.8 sees Ruan Ackermann shift to blindside flanker.

Elsewhere on Friday, Munster Rugby welcome Emirates Lions in the United Rugby Championship (URC) as they gear up for their Heineken Champions Cup Round 3 encounter with Northampton Saints a week on Saturday.

There are six changes for the Irish province, who are looking to do the double over Northampton, having clinched their first Pool B win by triumphing at cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens in Round 2.

Prop Josh Wycherley and hooker Diarmuid Barron are reinstated, with Gavin Coombes moving forward to lock and Alex Kendellen sliding into the No.8 shirt as John Hodnett comes in at openside flanker.

Rory Scannell is back to partner Malakai Fekitoa in the centre, with fly-half Ben Healy and wing Liam Coombes also called up.

Vodacom Bulls, who are seeking revenge against Exeter Chiefs when they welcome the 2020 Heineken Champions Cup champions to Pretoria in Round 3 a week on Saturday, have made four tweaks for their URC trip to Dragons RFC.

Prop Gerhard Steenekamp starts in the only change to their pack, with scrum-half Zak Burger and wing David Kriel also brought in. Wandisile Simelane lines up at outside centre and Kurt-Lee Arendse moves to full-back.