Saints want momentum from last home league game

Phil Dowson was appointed director of rugby to succeed the departing Chris Boyd ahead of the 2022-23 season

Northampton Saints boss Phil Dowson has set the twin goals of giving the fans something to cheer and building momentum for their European final in their last home league game of the season.

The reigning Premiership champions take on Saracens on Saturday with the play-offs now mathematically out of reach following last weekend's loss to Exeter.

Dowson may again opt to rest some first-choice players ahead of the Champions Cup final against Bordeaux but he has injuries to contend with among their replacements.

"The connection in the group is so strong that we think occasions like playing at home for the last time are important. We think the last home game of the season for the fans is important," director of rugby Dowson told BBC Radio Northampton.

"We think that momentum and getting back to winning ways after a disappointing result is important and these are all motivational elements - all things we want to put out on the pitch on Saturday."

Asked whether the prospect of a major European final was a worry, he said: "Yes, but it's nerve-wracking with Saracens coming up - let's deal with it in order and make sure we're set up to put a really good performance in."

Sarries are currently fifth in the Premiership table, three places above Northampton, and looking to force their way into the end-of-season play-offs.

"They are gunning for the top four, (have) a tonne of very strong players, Lions, etc. Loads and loads of quality across the board," said Dowson.

"I'm sure they're frustrated like we are with the consistency of their performance but when they're on, they're an absolute handful. It will be a really good challenge and it's something we want to get our teeth into."

Northampton, though, will almost certainly have to do so without half-back Tom James, prop Tom West and wing Will Glister, who were all injured at Sandy Park.

"Tom James had an HIA (head injury assessment) so he's going to be subject to player protocol," Dowson said.

"Tom West had a problem with his foot and the scan has been inconclusive so we're waiting to see how that comes out physically and see what we can get from him.

"Unfortunately, Will Glister has hurt his pec (pectoral muscle) so he'll more than likely need an operation in the next couple of weeks."

Centre Tom Litchfield said that despite the 42-14 scoreline, they felt they performed well against Exeter despite fielding a "makeshift" team.

"Overall, the group's in a really good place. There are a lot of lads who you might see this weekend that have had a rest and and will be ready to go for the last three weeks of the season," he added.

"Lads come into this group and say it's nothing like they've experienced before and that's a real strong point of this team, that we're really together, a close group, and you can see that on the pitch and in the way we play.

"We didn't really give Saracens the game we were hoping to at their place earlier in the season so we feel we've got to give a better showing of ourselves and to do that for our last home game of the year would be a nice way to finish off for the crowd."