SARACENS look to extend their unbeaten Zurich Premiership run under the sole guidance of Steve Diamond when they travel to under-performing Northampton Saints at Franklin's Gardens tomorrow (Saturday).
The Men in Black have not lost in the league since they went down 21-9 to Leicester Tigers at Welford Road on November 27 Rod Kafer's last Premiership game in charge, and the momentum they have built up culminated in a handsome win over Newcastle Falcons last time out.
"We've now got to carry this on and go to Northampton and get four points if we come away with the bonus point as well then great," said the head coach.
"We won't be counting our chickens but if we play with the same spirit and desire then we will be difficult to knock over.
"It's a really important game as we are not that far off them. If we come away with the four points I will be over the moon. I'm expecting a hard game as under Budge Pountney they are playing the way he used to really hard."
Pountney, who took over as head coach of a mis-firing Saints side midway through the season following the dismissal of South African Adam Solomans, has been forced hand Academy youngsters Paul Diggin a winger and centre Neil Starling their first starts to plug the gaps caused by injuries and international call-ups.
However, kingpins Bruce Reihana, Shane Drahm and Corne Krige who will captain the side in the absence of England hooker Steve Thompson are all restored to the starting line-up after injuries. Thompson, wing-turned-centre Ben Cohen and Scotland's Tom Smith are all away on Six Nations duty.
Saracens name the same squad that so impressed against Newcastle, except for Edinburgh loan signing Simon Taylor coming on to the replacements bench to replace injured back-rower Ben T Russell.
Skipper Hugh Vyvyan, who is available for Saracens after being overlooked for the number eight berth in the England side to play Wales in favour of Wasps' Joe Worsley, was buoyant following Friday's success over Newcastle.
"With so many new players and a new coaching structure we are still finding our feet," said the captain, "but we showed a lot of composure tonight and kept hold of the ball which was a very positive step.
"The games you target when you leave clubs are the ones against your old club. I was extremely pumped up before the game and I am glad the team played well and we won well.
"We've got no distractions as we been knocked out of both the cups so the league is now our focus. It's very important as it's the yardstick by which your judged and we are in a position that we are not really happy with and we want to rise up that table. All it takes is a couple of wins in a row and you are right back up there."
Tight-head prop Cobus Visagie admits Saracens must be ruthless if they are to take their first away win from the Saints since 1999.
"They are in desperate ways at the moment and we should capitalise on that," he said. "It will be a very hard game, they are very emotional when they play at Franklin's Gardens, but it will be an enjoyable one."
The abundant South African contingent at Northampton this season provide an extra-spur for the former Springbok Visagie.
"It's only Krige that is playing at the moment and I don't think any of them are going to stay ne
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