Lawes starts at six as he skippers Saints against Clermont
Boss Chris Boyd has made three changes to his pack following last Sunday's 27-16 Gallagher Premiership defeat at Wasps, with James Fish, Api Ratuniyarawa and Heinrich Brüssow stepping up from the replacements list.
Reece Marshall, Tom Wood and Lewis Ludlam drop to the bench.
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Hide AdAlex Mitchell also comes in, replacing Premiership player of the month for December, Cobus Reinach, who is among the replacements.
Dylan Hartley remains sidelined with a 'grumbly' knee, while the likes of Piers Francis (shoulder) and James Haskell (ankle) are also unavailable.
Saints travel to France to take on a Clermont side who are the only side to currently hold a blemish-free record in Europe this season.
The French giants have claimed four bonus-point wins from as many matches in Challenge Cup Pool 1, including a 41-20 success at Saints back in October.
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Hide AdSaints: Tuala; Collins, Dingwall, Burrell, Naiyaravoro; Biggar, Mitchell; van Wyk, Fish, Painter; Ribbans, Ratuniyarawa; Lawes (c), Brüssow, Harrison.
Replacements: Marshall, Waller, Franks, Wood, Ludlam, Reinach, Grayson, Kellaway.