Dickson eager to get job done ahead of Harlequins trip

Northampton can make sure of a play-off place by claiming a bonus-point win at Franklin’s Gardens on Saturday.

They will also be guaranteed a shot at the end-of-season shoot-out if Gloucester fail to get a point against Saracens on Saturday.

And scrum-half Dickson is eager to get the job done this weekend in a bid to avoid final-day pressure at The Stoop on May 4.

“This is a big, big week for us,” he said. If we win this, we’ll secure our top-four spot leading into the Harlequins week.

“Hopefully we’ll be able to get into the top four for the fourth year running and go that extra mile now.

“We’ve had four attempts at it and now it’s time to really put the foot down.

And he added: “It’s massively important to get the win this weekend. In front of our own crowd, a sell-out crowd, we owe the fans and hopefully we can go out there and do that.”

But Saints certainly won’t get a walkover on Saturday, as they face a Sale side buoyed by a 32-9 battering of Gloucester last Friday.

The Sharks showed their teeth in a display full of power and pace as they sunk the Cherry and Whites.

And Dickson said: “They showed against Gloucester last week that they throw the ball around a lot and they won 32-9 against a good team.

“They’ll be coming down here full of confidence and hopefully we can match them.

“It’s been very sharp in training and hopefully we can throw the ball around, and we need to make sure our forwards are spot on up front as well.”

Meanwhile, Dickson and his Saints team-mates will be in attendance at a club open day at Franklin’s Gardens next Saturday.

Players will be on hand to teach rugby skills on the Gardens turf and there are plenty more free activities.

The day also provides a last chance to say goodbye to players such as Brian Mujati and Soane Tonga’uiha, who are leaving the club this summer.