Harlequins director of rugby Conor O’Shea has cleared number eight Nick Easter’s move to start in the second row with England chief Martin Johnson for Friday’s clash with Sale Sharks.

Injuries to George Robson and James Percival mean Quins are light in that department, which has already seen the 32-year-old moved forward in the scrum during the club’s opening two Aviva Premiership encounters.

Winger Ugo Monye’s toe injury sees centre George Lowe move out wide with summer signing Ollie Smith brought in to make his first competitive start for his new club.

Hooker Matt Cairns and prop James Johnston come in for their first starts at Sedgley Park as O’Shea rings the changes after Saturday’s 20-16 defeat to Northampton Saints.

Quins line-up: 1 CERI JONES, 2 MATT CAIRNS, 3 JAMES JOHNSTON, 4 NICK EASTER, 5 TOMAS VALLEJOS, 6 CHRIS ROBSHAW (Captain), 7 WILL SKINNER, 8 TOM GUEST, 9 DANNY CARE, 10 NICK EVANS, 11 GEORGE LOWE, 12 JORDAN TURNER-HALL, 13 OLLIE SMITH, 14 TOM WILLIAMS, 15 MIKE BROWN.

16 CHRIS BROOKER, 17 JOE MARLER, 18 MARK LAMBERT, 19 OLLIE KOHN, 20 PETE BROWNE, 21 KARL DICKSON, 22 RORY CLEGG, 23 GONZALO CAMACHO.