Northampton v Bristol: Teams

Mallinder: Focused

Related links

Teams

• Northampton

Also see

• Sky Sports experts
• Rugby on Sky
• Live scores

Saints director of rugby Jim Mallinder insists his side will not underestimate Guinness Premiership strugglers Bristol on Saturday.

Northampton have already face Bristol four times this season - twice in the European Challenge Cup, once in the EDF Energy Cup and once in the league - registering three wins in the process.

However with Bristol edging out the Saints 13-13 in their league encounter, Mallinder knows his side can't take anything for granted.

"We know that Bristol are a good team and they beat us the last time we played each other in the Premiership in November," he said.

"They have plenty of experience throughout the team and dangerous players who can score tries. We are certainly not taking them lightly.

"We were disappointed by last week's game at Bath. The players have all responded well in training this week. They have worked hard and are determined to win tomorrow's game against Bristol."

Bristol will welcome back hard-working lock Roy Winters to their line-up for the clash.

Winters missed all of December after suffering an injury against London Irish.

However prop Jason Hobson is ruled out of the trip, meaning Darren Crompton reverts to tighthead and Mark Irish comes in at loosehead.

Northampton: 15 Ben Foden, 14 Paul Diggin, 13 Jon Clarke, 12 James Downey, 11 Sean Lamont, 10 Stephen Myler, 9 Lee Dickson, 8 Roger Wilson, 7 Scott Gray, 6 Mark Easter, 5 Juandre Kruger, 4 Ignacio Fernandez Lobbe (c), 3 Euan Murray, 2 Dylan Hartley, 1 Soane Tonga'uiha.
Replacements: 16 Paul Shields, 17 Tom Smith, 18 Christian Day, 19 Mark Hopley, 20 Carlos Spencer, 21 Bruce Reihana, 22 Chris Mayor.

Bristol: 15 Luke Arscott, 14 Lee Robinson, 13 Neil Brew, 12 Luke Eves, 11 David Lemi, 10 Ed Barnes, 9 Shaun Perry (c), 8 Dan Ward-Smith, 7 Alfie To'oala, 6 Nathan Budgett, 5 Robert Sidoli, 4 Roy Winters, 3 Darren Crompton, 2 Mark Regan, 1 Mark Irish.
Replacements: 16 Scott Linklater, 17 Wayne Thompson, 18 Mariano Sambucetti, 19 Matt Salter, 20 Graeme Beveridge, 21 Chris Ashwin, 22 Nathan Brew.