Last time the two sides clashed at Franklin’s Gardens, Tom Wood’s late score sealed an epic semi-final comeback and there’s every chance sparks will fly again as Aviva Premiership action returns for Round 10.
“It’s going to be the same old Northampton-Leicester derby,” Hartley told SaintsTV. “There’s a lot of rivalry there and it’s always a good ding-dong. The fact that it’s a derby adds a bit to it and the intensity levels certainly go up.
“The amount of people I get walking up to me in the street who are Saints fans that work in Leicestershire or Market Harborough, or who have a boss that is a Leicester fan is unbelievable.
“It’s not just for the players, it’s for the fans as well.
“I’m sure it’s going to be a feisty one, but I’m fully confident that we’re playing really well, particularly at home. I’m confident that, as long as we turn up with a good mental attitude, we’re more than capable of getting the result we want.”
The derby is another sell-out at the Gardens, but if you’ve not got a ticket there are still a number of ways to follow. The game is live on BT Sport for a 3:15pm kick off, while www.saintslive.co.uk and @SaintsRugby Twitter will keep you right up to speed with all the scores.
