Saints’ progress is not guaranteed, says Mallinder

NORTHAMPTON can become the first team through to this season’s Heineken Cup quarter-finals tonight — but Saints boss Jim Mallinder is taking nothing for granted.

Saints have reached the blue riband tournament’s last-eight on five previous occasions, including last season when they bowed out against twice European champions Munster.

A bonus-point victory over Franklin’s Gardens visitors Edinburgh would guarantee that unbeaten Northampton finish top of Pool One, but four points or a draw would be enough if Castres lose to Cardiff Blues tonight.

Saints’ task has not been helped though, by injuries that have sidelined England pair Chris Ashton and Courtney Lawes, while they also return to Europe following successive Aviva Premiership defeats against Harlequins and Leicester.

Mallinder said: “We have had a promising start to the Heineken Cup. But what we achieved before Christmas will be forgotten if we don’t get a positive result against Edinburgh.

“Edinburgh have played some good rugby in the Heineken Cup this season and have threats all over the field, so we will have to be at our best from the first whistle and impose our game-plan.”

Saints edged out the Scots 31-27 in a Murrayfield thriller three months ago, a victory that enabled them to take early charge of their qualifying group.

Scotland centre Joe Ansbro replaces Ashton (thigh muscle) on the wing, with Calum Clark in for Lawes, whose knee injury will mean a lengthy lay-off.

Mallinder added: “Joe Ansbro and Calum Clark played well when they went on at Welford Road (against Leicester).

“We had to cope without the internationals in November, and we will have to do so again over the next few weeks. We have to plan for the possibility of injuries and have put together a squad that we believe has the depth necessary to compete.”

Cardiff Blues, tipped by many pundits as potential quarter-finalists, find themselves propping up Northampton’s group heading into their home clash against Castres.

The Blues’ European hopes have effectively disappeared for another season, having collected just six points from four games, but rugby director David Young is determined to see a strong finish.

Young said: “We’ve worked hard over the last couple of years to be one of the top seeds in the Heineken Cup, and we have to make sure that if we do go out of the competition, we go out fighting.”