Dingwall hopes Saints can 'kickstart' winning run

Fraser Dingwall has made 10 appearances for Northampton so far this season

Northampton Saints centre Fraser Dingwall is ready to try and help 'kickstart' a run of wins after returning from England duty, when they host Leicester Tigers in Friday's East Midlands derby.

Director of rugby Phil Dowson faced a dilemma over which internationals to rest following their involvement in the Six Nations.

But Dingwall pronounced himself ready to play after only featuring in two of England's five games - albeit the last two against Italy and Wales - with Saints needing a win to revive their faltering play-off hopes.

"Intensity-wise there isn't really a game that could be better suited, coming from Test rugby," Dingwall told BBC Radio Northampton.

"I don't really feel like I've had enough involvement over the Six Nations to need some time off, I'm keen to get stuck straight back in and hopefully we can kickstart a bit of a run.

"We're in a place where every game now is a massive one for us. I think that's something this team can embrace really well. There isn't a choice any more around how desperate are we to win each time, we have to go and win.

"In a derby, on Friday, it's all teed up nicely to get some momentum going."

Dingwall was not involved when Saints lost 24-8 at Leicester earlier in the season, a game notable for how many times they crossed the Tigers line but were unable to ground the ball.

"That Welford Road game was gutting, we got the ball over the line four or five times and just couldn't quite manage to score," he said.

"That was a bit of a blip and we've had a few, so we'll be keen to right some wrongs on Friday."

Saints are eighth in the table and nine points adrift of fourth-placed Tigers in the race for the play-offs and as well as Dingwall, Dowson has decided that fly-half Fin Smith will also be in his starting XV.

Tommy Freeman and Alex Mitchell are rested, and Ollie Sleightholme has been ruled out by injury, but he will have the option of introducing Alex Coles and Henry Pollock from the bench.

"The tougher part is trying to transition from playing with different people to being chucked straight back into your club team, you have to reintegrate very quickly into how we want to play and our patterns," said Dingwall.

He has been described as a 'glue player' by England coach Steve Borthwick, but the 25-year-old regards that as a compliment.

"It's very much [about] how I can bring everything together or make the backline function as best as possible," he added.

"If my main involvement is making the team function as best as they can and bring out the best of some of the really talented people around me, I'm quite happy to take that."