Saints ‘will give their all’ in bid to qualify
The Zurich Premiership strugglers are guaranteed last-eight status if they beat Glasgow at Franklin's Gardens and secure a bonus point. And they received a huge lift going into the game after their England star Ben Cohen ended speculation about his future by signing a new three-year contract.
"I am convinced that this club has the will and the ability to start winning consistently, and in the near future compete for every honour available in club rugby. I want to be a part of that, starting tomorrow night against Glasgow," Cohen said.
Assuming that Toulouse beat Llanelli Scarlets, then Saints will progress as a best runner-up, even without a bonus point though, victory should be enough.
The prospect of Northampton competing at this season's Heineken Cup business end would have been dismissed as ludicrous during the autumn, when they lost nine successive league games and plummeted to the Premiership basement.
Since rugby director Alan Solomons' departure, coaches Budge Pountney and Paul Grayson have revived the team, featuring four successive victories in all competitions.
"The good thing is that we have our destiny in our own hands, and we can make it to the knockout stages if we stick to our game-plan and give it our all," said England hooker Thompson.
And Pountney added: "This tournament is something special maybe a good run could lift our season. The spirit is better, the confidence is growing and the boys are playing harder rugby.
"But we are not the finished article, and that gives us a reason to keep working hard and training hard. It makes it a lot easier when you are winning everyone goes to training with a smile on their face."
Pountney has made three changes from the side that pipped Llanelli 22-20 at Stradey Park last Sunday.
Former Springbok skipper Corne Krige, who suffered an ear injury against Llanelli, is replaced by Darren Fox, with prop Brett Sturgess taking over from Chris Budgen and Mark Tucker replacing Wylie Human.
Northampton could even win their group if Toulouse come unstuck, but that is an unlikely scenario, especially as the French giants have won 14 successive Heineken Cup home games.
"Llanelli may be out of it, but they have such a proud tradition that they will come to Toulouse with expectations and determined to do their team proud," said Toulouse star and Wales captain Gareth Thomas.
"It is great playing against the Welsh teams, but I am very disappointed for the Scarlets that they cannot qualify for the quarter-finals.
"From a purely personal point of view, it would have been great if this had been the decider for the pool winner with Toulouse finishing top and the Scarlets runners-up."
Scarlets boss Gareth Jenkins has selected a strong side for the trip, even though his team were eliminated following the Northampton defeat.
"We are out, but there is pride at stake," said Jenkins. "Toulouse are a great team, and this is the first time we have played them out there. If we want something out of this tournament, then we have to go there on Friday and wear the jersey proudly.
"For us, the pressure is off, but Toulouse will be very aware of their need to win to top the table. We will be looking to deliver a big game."
France fly-half Frederic Michalak is set to make his return against the Scarlets after it was feared he might be out of action until February.
Tonight's Pool 3 matches: Northampton v Glasgow; Toulouse v Llanelli.
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