The trio are all in Jim Mallinder’s 24-man squad for the first time in 2008 and the Saints boss today said that the wins at the Cornish Pirates and Plymouth will mean nothing if the team slip up on their return to Franklin’s Gardens tomorrow.

“We may have had two good performances away from home but we have to do the same at the Gardens tomorrow,” he said. “Sedgley Park have been competitive in plenty of matches this season and had a good go at us at Park Lane in October.

“All of the pressure is on us. The players coming have been set the standard to achieve and it is up to them to do that.”

It is the Saints’ 20th National League One match so far this season and Mallinder acknowledged that the campaign had been tough.

“It is a long season in NL1,” he said. “Although the National Trophy has given us a new competition to concentrate on recently you cannot ignore the fact that we have 30 games in which to secure promotion to the Premiership.

“We might be top at the moment but there is plenty that can happen in the next three months. Our job is to focus on each game as it comes, nothing more.”

Saturday’s referee is 43-year-old Nick Williams. The self-employed building contractor has been on the National Panel of Referees since 2002 and is a life-long member of Yatton RFC.

There are still tickets available for tomorrow’s game. Prices start from £12 and more information can be gained by calling the Saints Ticket Office on 01604 581000.

You can see Jim Mallinder’s thoughts on the game at www.TVNorthants.co.uk. Just click here to watch the film!

NORTHAMPTON SAINTS SQUAD TO PLAY SEDGLEY PARK
National League One
Franklin’s Gardens; Saturday, January 26th, 2008; kick-off 3pm
Backs:
Joe Ansbro, Chris Ashton, Jon Clarke, Paul Diggin, James Downey, Johnny Howard, Stephen Myler, Bruce Reihana, Mark Robinson, Carlos Spencer, Neil Starling.

Forwards:
Chris Budgen, Mark Easter, Darren Fox, Joe Gray, Dylan Hartley, Mark Hopley, Phil Hoy, Matt Lord, Christian Short, Tom Smith, Barry Stewart, Soane Tonga’uiha, Paul Tupai.