Saints need to step up

Reihana: Premiership push

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Northampton skipper Bruce Reihana admits the club needed relegation two seasons ago, but now they are back in the Guinness Premiership to stay.

The Saints just spent the one season outside of the top flight, and they booked their place back in the Premiership with an unbeaten National League One campaign last term.

Reihana and his troops face Worcester Warriors on the opening day of the Premiership season next week, and the club are determined not to endure another relegation battle.

New Zealand back Reihana admits the club needed relegation to sort out matters behind the scenes, but they are a new team now.

Relegation

"Definitely we needed to go down there were a few too many cracks and we've certainly ironed those out now and there's a good culture at the club," Reihana told Sky Sports News.

Northampton are strangely not favourites to go down despite them being a newly-promoted outfit, but Reihana says that only time will tell if they are going to struggle.

"It's always going to be a question mark until the season starts and we start putting performances together consistently," he added.

"Nobody is ever going to know but we're in good enough shape to give it a good shot."

Reihana says finishing just above the drop zone is not enough for Saints this season, and they will be looking at finishing up the table.

"Expectations are a lot higher," He admitted.

"We are starting at rock bottom so the only way is up and we look forward to challenging ourselves to push up that ladder.

"We certainly don't want to be down their fighting relegation again."