Canadian captain Sophie de Goede wants Saracens to carry their momentum into the play-offs in their final league game of the regular season.
De Goede returned to club colours last week for the first time since February as Sarries secured a thrilling 33-31 win against table-topping Gloucester-Hartpury to secure a home semi-final berth.
She said: “It’s so good to be back. It’s been a real home from home. Being back in the daily environment has been brilliant.”
Saracens have shuffled their side ahead of their meeting with fifth-placed Loughborough. Akina Gondwe is the only mainstay from last week’s starting front row, as she is joined by Bryony Field, who starts against her former club, and Donna Rose. Co-captain de Goede is at No.8 in place of Poppy Cleall. Sharifa Kasolo also comes into the starting XV in place of Marlie Packer, while Leanne Infante gets the nod at scrum-half.
Wing Paige Farries starts in place of Lotte Clapp and Sarah McKenna returns to the side to co-captain from full-back.
England fly-half Helena Rowland returns for Loughborough after recovering from a hand injury, with Helen Nelson switching to inside centre alongside Emily Scarratt, who makes her 40th Lightning appearance. Bulou Mataitoga comes onto the wing.
Up front, prop Isla Curphey is promoted from the bench alongside hooker Kathryn Treder and tight-head Laura Keates – who between them scored all three of Lightning’s tries last time out in the 19-18 win against Trailfinders.
TEAMS
LOUGHBOROUGH: Rollie, Mataitoga, Scarratt, Nelson, Westcombe-Evans, Rowland, Davey; Curphey, Treder, Keates, Ives Campion, Duguid, Malcolm (c), Kabeya, Hibbert-Jones Replacements: Meuller, A Williams, Adjei-Ansere, O’Donnell, Taufoou, Maxwell, Green, Scantlebury
SARACENS: McKenna (cc), Grant, Gregson, Bridger, Farries, Harrison, Infante; Gondwe, Field, Rose, McMillan, Taylor, Evans, Kasolo, De Goede (cc) Replacements: Campbell, Tremelling, Clifford, McIntosh, Moore, Sellors, MacDougall, Alejandro
Referee: Harry Walbaum
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