Saints gearing up for crucial clash

Northampton boss Paul Grayson is under no illusions about the task facing his Heineken Cup quarter-final hopefuls in tomorrow’s clash against Border Reivers.

England's Guinness Premiership strugglers Saints head to Galashiels knowing that a bonus-point victory could be enough for one of two best runners-up spots.

Biarritz, with a maximum 25 points from five games, will wrap up Pool Six one week inside the distance if Northampton lose tomorrow or win without collecting a bonus point.

But Northampton, despite poor Premiership form that has seen them collect just four victories from 12 starts, still look a strong bet to progress.

Borders are already out of the quarter-final picture, and Saints will arrive at Netherdale refreshed by an unexpected break after last Sunday’s scheduled league encounter against leaders Bristol was postponed.

Grayson said: “Last weekend’s game could not have been played, so it has given us an opportunity to rest a few players, but then playing in the mud may have been an equaliser and given us a chance.

“But the break has given some aching bodies some time to have some positive recovery and to turn our minds quickly to Borders.

“The forecast for Sunday is high winds on a boggy pitch, so it makes the scrum a bit more of a lottery and slows the game down, but we know we have to do a lot of things right to get what we want.”

Grayson welcomes back scrum-half Mark Robinson following his recovery from knee trouble, while Johnny Howard lines up on the wing as Ben Cohen and Robbie Kydd forge Saints’ midfield partnership.

The Ospreys could be without Wales wing Shane Williams against Liberty Stadium visitors Stade Francais in tomorrow’s Pool Three showdown.

Williams is battling to overcome an ankle injury, and together with fellow wing Nikki Walker, faces a late fitness test. Stade, meanwhile, have doubts surrounding centre Brian Liebenberg and prop Sylvain Marconnet.

Ospreys will move above Stade at the group summit if they topple a team they beat 13-8 in last season’s Heineken Cup, but Stade’s final fixture is against hapless Italian outfit Calvisano, whereas the Welsh region must visit English champions Sale Sharks.

Two victories will guarantee Ospreys a first quarter-final appearance, yet Stade are fired up for success in a competition they have never won, despite boasting several players rated among Europe’s finest.

“It s like a last-16 cup tie for us. If we don’t win, it is clear we might not play our quarter-final at home,” said Stade president Max Guazzini.

“And if we don’t qualify, for the second successive season, that would be a particular shame for a special generation of players, for whom it could perhaps be the final chance to bring home the European Cup.”

Ospreys head coach Lyn Jones added: “Stade will be doubly determined to set the record straight after last season’s result at the Liberty Stadium, but we go into this game knowing it is within our capability to win it.

“We can have confidence approaching this fixture, not just off the back of last year’s result, but also on the back of the narrow defeat against them in Paris last October.

“It was one of our better performances, although without success, but it indicated that we can match the best teams in European rugby.”

Heineken Cup holders Munster meet Pool Four strugglers Bourgoin in Switzerland tomorrow, the game having been moved by their opponents across the border to Geneva, with hooker Frankie Sheahan making his 50th tournament appearance and number eight Denis Leamy confident of recovering in time from a stomach bug.

In the second-tier European Challenge Cup, Saracens tackle Narbonne, knowing an anticipated home success could be enough to reach the last eight.

And England head coach Brian Ashton could be among the Vicarage Road crowd, taking another look at Saracens’ RBS 6 Nations Championship hopeful Andy Farrell.