With five rounds of the Aviva Premiership Rugby campaign remaining just three points separate the Saints in fourth with London Wasps in fifth. Not only that, but every single game in the run-in is against a club with something to fight for at both ends of the table.
So it is no surprise that the Saints captain says getting a win in Wycombe is all that matters.
"Saturday's game isn't about setting down a marker, but more about a matter of winning and securing our place in the top four, especially against a team that's hot on our heels," Hartley told SaintsTV this week.
"We've got some tough games coming up, so we need to put some space between us and the teams below us and try to keep going forward.
"Wasps are a good team and if you don't turn up on the day they can put a lot of points on you. Their wingers get talked about a lot, but if you look at people like Billy Vunipola in their back row they've got a lot of quality there as well. They've got some returning internationals like Joe Launchbury and James Haskell as well and they're quality as well.
"But if we can get a complete performance it will be pretty decent. Playing away from home is never easy. It's about getting the result and that's what we're going for."
Tickets remain available for tomorrow's game for Saints supporters who want to travel and get behind their team. For more information contact London Wasps directly.
NORTHAMPTON SAINTS TEAM TO PLAY LONDON WASPS
Aviva Premiership Rugby Round 18
Adams Park
Saturday, March 23rd, 2013
Kick off 3:15pm
15 Ben FODEN
14 James WILSON
13 George PISI
12 Dom WALDOUCK
11 Jamie ELLIOTT
10 Stephen MYLER
9 Lee DICKSON
1 Soane TONGA'UIHA
2 Dylan HARTLEY (capt)
3 Tom MERCEY
4 Courtney LAWES
5 Christian DAY
6 Samu MANOA
8 GJ VAN VELZE
Replacements
16 Ross MCMILLAN
17 Alex WALLER
18 Brian MUJATI
19 Tom WOOD
20 Ben NUTLEY
21 Martin ROBERTS
22 Ryan LAMB
