Saints star Tom Wood will this week be named England captain, according to reports in the national press.
Wood skippered the Red Rose to a 2-0 Test series victory on their summer tour of Argentina and was also a star performer during the Six Nations campaign, which was led by Chris Robshaw.
But Harlequins flanker Robshaw could now be set to miss out on the captain’s role for the autumn internationals when Stuart Lancaster names his Elite Player Squad on Thursday.
Wood has also shown his leadership abilities at club level, ensuring Saints didn’t crumble when skipper Dylan Hartley was sent off during the Premiership final defeat to Leicester.
And he now looks set to get the ultimate reward as Lancaster builds his side for the clashes with New Zealand, Australia and Argentina later this year.