As if Saints versus Tigers wasn’t big enough already, throw into the mix the fact the two sides are battling it out for the fourth and final playoff spot in the Aviva Premiership and you get the latest addition to a long line of huge East Midlands derbies.
With only three games left of the season, the battle for the playoffs is reaching fever pitch, and every single point becomes crucial.
Leicester currently sit in fourth place, four points ahead of the Saints, meaning victory on Saturday would put the Saintsmen right back into the thick of the fight for the semi-finals.
The Saints go on to face Bath at home before a trip to Kingsholm on the final day of the season, though defeat at the hands of their neighbours would all but end their hopes, effectively making Saturday’s game and those thereafter knockout ties.
The last five meetings between the famous rivals have all gone in favour of the home side, including last season’s regular season home clash and the Aviva Premiership semi-final at Franklin’s Gardens a season earlier.
On that Friday night two years ago, the Saints Nation’s support carried the men in black, green, and gold to the Premiership Final. With the new Barwell Stand in place and the game sold out, ranks have swollen to 15,500 and another magical Gardens evening could well be on the cards.
More than ever in 2015/16 every point counts and every voice counts.
