Jim Mallinder, the Northampton Saints rugby director, is braced for "a massive game" when his side clash with Saracens today for a spot in the Guinness Premiership final. When the teams meet at Franklin's Gardens it will be the fifth meeting this season between the two. Both have two wins each. And there has also been plenty of off-field business between the clubs that commanded headlines. They were recently involved in a bitter public dispute over Soane Tonga'uiha, the Saints prop, for his services next season, while Northampton were aggrieved by Saracens' celebrations after losing to them on home turf last month.
"A Premiership semi-final is a massive game no matter who you are playing," said Mallinder. "We have worked hard to get a home semi-final, and we know that we have our destiny in our own hands." Mallinder makes one change with Brian Mujati, the South African prop, replacing Euan Murray. Alex Goode, the full-back is restored to the Saracens line-up following a thumb injury that forced him out of last Saturday's win at Leicester.
The other clash sees champions Leicester meet Bath at Welford Road, with the Tigers aiming to reach a sixth successive play-off final. Meanwhile in the Super 14, two Bryan Habana tries helped the Cape Town Stormers thrash the table-topping Pretoria Bulls 38-10 yesterday in the last regular season game of the year to secure second spot and home advantage for the play-offs. They face the New South Wales Waratahs next weekend.
The other match will see the Bulls play host to the fourth-placed Canterbury Crusaders. Yesterday's action also saw the Golden Lions finish their dismal season winless when the Free State Cheetahs thrashed them 59-10. * Compiled by Graham Caygill, with agencies Northampton v Saracens, 4.30pm, Leicester v Bath, 7pm, both on Showsports 2
