Mallinder expects Saints and Saracens to produce another epic

Samu Manoa scored for Saints as they beat Saracens last month (picture: Sharon Lucey)

Jim Mallinder is predicting another cracker between Saints and Saracens at Franklin’s Gardens on Saturday.

The teams will square up in an Aviva Premiership play-off semi-final, which will determine who heads to Twickenham for the grand final a week later.

Saints beat Saracens in last season’s showpiece, with Alex Waller’s try in the final seconds of extra-time securing the silverware.

And Mallinder’s men have beaten the Barnet-based team in both league games this season, with the most recent victory a 25-20 success at stadium:mk last month.

“Battles is a good word to use to describe games between the teams,” said the Saints director of rugby. “We’ve had some cracking matches.

“The final was a really good one last year and we’ve had some good ones already this season.

“We know each other quite well and it’s going to be a great game.”