Dan Biggar is conducting things well and puts in a lovely cross-field kick to Matt Proctor.

He gathers but the advantage is being played and Saints come back to kick into the corner.

Saints have started so well here, Tigers have barely had a touch, but crucially there's only three points in it.

Ian Hunter
Former Saints and England wing on BBC Radio Northampton

You're not going to get many chances like that today. You have to put those away.

Oh no no no! Courtnall Skosan has had a nightmare!

Saints win a scrum against the head and Alex Mitchell puts the South African into space with no covering defender - but he drops it with the line at his mercy!

The visitors are on top but can't keep missing these chances.

Ian Hunter
Former Saints and England wing on BBC Radio Northampton

It hits his knee first and then it brushes his hand. The referee got that right.

Alex Mitchell is over for Saints - but is there an earlier knock-on?

Yes there was - Northampton wing Courtnall Skosan didn't gather the kick cleanly and it's a reprieve for Tigers.

Just as I was praising Biggar he makes a mistake by putting his foot in touch while gathering a kick to gift Tigers a lineout.

But Saints disrupt well and have possession back.

Vicky Macqueen
Ex-England women full-back on BBC Radio Leicester

It was casually struck by Biggar. He's so used to the big occasion and he wasn't going to miss that kick.

First blood to Saints!

Dan Biggar marks his 50th Premiership appearance with the opening points.

He's got bags of experience and is just the man you would want kicking at goal today.

First signs of the tension out there as a Saints penalty prompts a bit of a melee - we saw plenty of that earlier between Sarries and Quins didn't we.

Referee Matt Carley tries to tell the skippers to put a lid on their teams early on - good luck with that!

Dan Biggar points to the posts.

And now a big confidence booster for Tigers!

A Saints penalty sees them kick upfield well into Tigers territory, but the hosts disrupt the lineout well and win the turnover.

George Ford will clear.

A very early substitution for the hosts as Dan Kelly departs inside three minutes.

Freddie Burns is on in his place, which will prompt a bit of a reshuffle.

Not the ideal start for the Tigers.

George Ford sends up a couple of aerial testers for the Saints backline early on and they come through with flying colours.

An early confidence boost in an intimidating atmosphere.

The sun is shining, the flags are waving and we're under way.

It's a great atmosphere - the noise is incredible!

Let us know your thoughts on social media throughout the game using the hashtag #bbcrugby

Ben Youngs looks as emotional as you expect in the most trying of circumstances as the minute's applause is observed before we get started.

Image source, PA Media

There was incredibly sad news earlier this week with the announcement that former Tigers skipper Tom Youngs' wife Tiffany had passed away after suffering from cancer.

Tiffany was diagnosed with a lymphatic cancer in 2014, prompting Tom to step away from England's tour of New Zealand to care for his wife.

A minute's applause will be held prior to kick-off and opposition player Dan Biggar summed-up the situation eloquently this week, telling BBC Look East that there are things far more important in life than today's result.

"I hope everyone realises that however big the game is, it pales into a little bit of insignificance when you look at what has happened this week, so from everyone at Northampton Saints, we'd like to pass our condolences on to Tom and family," he said.

Image source, Getty Images

Northampton director of rugby Chris Boyd will be hoping his side can give him the perfect farewell as he prepares to leave Franklins Gardens after four years.

Speaking to the Rugby Union Weekly podcast this week, the 63-year-old said English rugby "needs more risk-takers" in order to flourish.

"If I was going to be observational - because I am not going to make a criticism - but if I was going to be observational of the average English rugby player, it's that they are too scared to make mistakes, they are too scared to try and fail.

"There are some bloody talented midfielders here, they just need some oxygen to play," he said.

The Kiwi heads back to New Zealand following the end of the campaign, but will be hoping that it doesn't end today in Leicester and he can take his side to Twickenham next week, before being replaced by former England forward Phil Dowson.

Image source, Getty Images

Tigers stalwarts Ellis Genge and George Ford are both bidding farewell at the end of the season, as they head to Bristol and Sale respectively.

It goes without saying that they'll be hoping their Tigers journey doesn't end today.

Genge said that the time Leicester had spent in "the gutter" in recent seasons had inspired their revival as a Premiership force this season.

"I just want to completely empty the tank for the supporters who have been there throughout," the England prop added.

Image source, Getty Images

Northampton forwards coach Phil Dowson admits they have endured two "chastening experiences" against their East Midlands rivals so far this season - beaten 55-26 on home soil and 35-20 at Leicester.

But Saints secured a play-off spot on the back of six victories in their last seven Premiership games.

"It feels pretty special," said Dowson, who will succeed Chris Boyd as Saints' rugby director this summer.

"We have worked hard to give ourselves an opportunity in a semi-final, and it's exciting. How we manage to get ourselves into the game is integral to the success of our game-plan. We have to be physical and we have to be disciplined," he added.

Image source, Getty Images

Despite a highly-impressive season, Steve Borthwick insists his side have "plenty to improve on" as they go into this afternoon's game.

"We're still very early in the journey," he told BBC Radio Leicester.

"You're talking about a club here that very nearly got relegated two years ago - a club that wasn't really respected, was losing most games and the only big games were relegation contests.

"The team has a lot of growth in it, it's a young team, and it's learning quickly from experiences," added Borthwick.

Image source, Rex Features

Argentine hooker Julián Montoya returns to action for the first time in more than a month, alongside club captain Ellis Genge and Dan Cole in the front row

There's plenty of experience in the half-backs in England pair Ben Youngs and George Ford and powerful winger Nemani Nadolo is set to be unleashed from the bench as Steve Borthwick opts for Guy Porter and Harry Potter on the wings.

Saints make four changes with Juarno Augustus, Courtnall Skosan, Emmanuel Iyogun and Ehren Painter all starting the semi-final.

Welsh fly-half Dan Biggar is set to make his 50th Premiership appearance alongside scrum-half Alex Mitchell, who is statistically the competition’s most-dangerous player with 11 tries and 13 assists this season.

Leicester Tigers: Steward; Potter, Moroni, Kelly, Porter; Ford, Youngs; Genge (c), Montoya, Cole; Wells, Green, Liebenberg, Reffell, Wiese.

Replacements: Clare, Leatigaga, Heyes, Chessum, Martin, Van Poortvliet, Burns, Nadolo.

Northampton Saints: Freeman; Proctor, Dingwall, Hutchinson, Skosan; Biggar, Mitchell; Iyogun, Matavesi, Painter; Coles, Ratuniyarawa, Lawes, Ludlam (c), Augustus.

Replacements: Haywood, Waller, Heffernan, Ribbans, Hinkley, James, Grayson, Francis.