Dickson says Saints have to show what they are made of

Northampton face Saracens at Milton Keynes this afternoon (Sunday, ko 2.15pm) before games against Exeter, Castres and Glasgow.

It’s sequence of fixtures which will decide Saints’ Heineken Cup destiny and go a long way to indicating where they will finish in the Aviva Premiership.

And Dickson is desperate to prove his side can compete with the best, just as they did by turning over Ulster in Belfast two weeks ago.

“They (the next four weeks) are very important just to get back on track in the Premiership,”said the former Newcastle Falcons No.9. “These next two games, Sarries and Exeter, are two tough games.

“If we can get two wins these we’re right back in the mix and the two Heineken Cup games after that we need to win both and need Ulster to slip up.

“There’s belief in the squad that we can do these things. The belief after the Ulster game shone through.

“We know we can do it, we’ve just got to do it in every game so hopefully in these next four weeks we can really show what we’re made of.”

Saints, who have not conceded a try in their past two games, will need every drop of self-belief on Sunday as they look to avenge their defeat to Saracens earlier this season.

Dickson and Co went down to a 16-6 loss at Franklin’s Gardens on October 27, and the scrum-half is eager to ensure it’s Northampton who come out on top this time round.

“It’s always going to be close,” he said. “It’s probably going to be a kicking game and we’ve got to make sure we don’t get bored of doing that.

“It’s about playing in the right areas, they’ve got a good defensive team and they’ve got a good attacking team as well.

“But the last couple of weeks our defence has been good, we’ve not conceded a try, which has been brilliant, so it’s two really good defensive teams going at it.

“We’ve got to make sure we come out on top this weekend.”