Saints must start fast against Leicester - Freeman

Tommy Freeman scored a try when Northampton won at Leicester in October

England wing Tommy Freeman says Northampton Saints must impose their game on Leicester Tigers from the outset in Saturday's East Midlands derby.

Saints have put more than 30 points on the board in the first half in their opening two games of the new campaign before losing their way after the break, but have a draw and a win so far.

They suffered the embarrassment of a 33-0 defeat when the teams last met at Franklin's Gardens in March.

"It was not good to be nilled at home (last season), it's something we won't let happen again," Freeman told BBC Radio Northampton.

"We haven't dwelt on it too much, each game against them is another shot to go and get it right. We'll do our best to focus on us and deliver a performance.

"It's about starting fast and doing what we do. As soon as we start getting into the niggly things they want to get into, they're very good at sticking to a game plan and delivering it.

"We want to impose ourselves as much as possible, not worry about them, and when we get our foot on the throat, keep it there and not let it off."

Freeman scored 16 tries in 19 games for Northampton in 2024-25 and will make his 100th appearance for the club on Saturday.

He returns to return to the side along with British & Irish Lions team-mates Fin Smith, Alex Mitchell and Henry Pollock.

"They are four of the best players in the world, it's great to get those boys back in," said director of rugby Phil Dowson.

"We've tried to make training as tough as possible to prepare them for those hits, but we're looking forward to getting them out there and I'm sure they'll be ready for it."

Leicester are one place below Saints in the Prem table, having won one and lost one at the start of the campaign, and Dowson is expecting a full-on encounter.

"It's a very special derby, one of the best in domestic rugby, and we're excited about getting stuck into another chapter," he said.

"That was a humbling experience (last season) and one we don't want to repeat.

"Form is kind of irrelevant but we know Leicester have got some high-quality players and Geoff Parling is already having an impact there."