Bristol Bears v Northampton Saints: Tom Vickers' big match preview

Competition: Gallagher Premiership

Venue: Ashton Gate, Bristol

Date and kick-off time: Friday, December 4, 2020, 7.45pm

Live television coverage: BT Sport 1

Weather: 5c, showers

Referee: Luke Pearce (104th Premiership game)

Bristol Bears: Purdy; Adeolokun, O'Conor, S Piutau (c), Leiua; Bedlow, Uren; Woolmore, Byrne, Lahiff; Attwood, Joyce; Heenan, D Thomas, Hughes.

Replacements: Capon, Y Thomas, Afoa, Holmes, Eadie, Randall, Eden, Fricker.

Saints: Tuala; Proctor, Francis, Hutchinson, Collins; Grayson, Taylor; Waller (cc), Marshall, Franks; Ratuniyarawa, Ribbans; Isiekwe, Ludlam (cc), Wood.

Replacements: Fish, van Wyk, Painter, Coles, Adendorff, Mitchell, Dingwall, Naiyaravoro.

Outs: Saints: George Furbank (concussion), Teimana Harrison (calf), Mikey Haywood (knee), Danny Hobbs-Awoyemi (achilles), Courtney Lawes (ankle), Ollie Sleightholme (ankle), Kayde Sylvester (Achilles), JJ Tonks (shoulder).

Most recent meeting: Tuesday, September 8, 2020: Bristol Bears 47 Saints 10 (Gallagher Premiership)

Tom's preview: 'Don't write us off'.

Those were the strong words of Saints attack coach Sam Vesty at Wednesday's virtual media session as he continually insisted that there is enough belief and talent at Franklin's Gardens to turn things around and enjoy a successful season.

Vesty was keen to simply speak about this campaign, which, let's not forget, is just two games old.

The problem is that because of how 2019/20 ended - Saints lost their final seven matches of last season in all competitions - echoes of it can't be escaped.

Many will view it in the wider context, which is just two wins from the past 16 matches played and eight defeats from as many home league matches in 2020.

But Vesty knows the players can't be allowed to even look back at last weekend, when Saints were humbled by Harlequins, never mind reflect on what happened earlier in the year.

Because somehow, anyhow, they have to garner the confidence and momentum to win a game of rugby.

It seemed unthinkable at the start of 2020 that this kind of run would occur.

Saints were playing with such a swagger, putting sides to the sword regularly.

But they are now stuck in a rut, searching for a way out before the Champions Cup kicks off with a home fixture against French giants Bordeaux-Bègles next Friday.

Their defence has been so porous, with 81 points conceded in two Premiership games this season.

And it goes back much further than that, with Saints hit by more sucker punches than a bad boxer in this calendar year.

Time and again, they give up points in their 22 that you wouldn't see the top defensive teams do even once.

And it has meant that whatever they manage to produce in attack - and last weekend that was a four-try bonus point - has mattered little.

Against Bristol, they know they will be punished for errors if they occur again at Ashton Gate.

The Bears, though missing a host of star names due to international duty, are now a formidable team whoever they field.

They have a game plan that works and they have the raw confidence that they need, especially after lifting the European Challenge Cup last season.

They are a club on the up, as Saints seemed to be at the start of 2020.

The sides have gone in very different directions since then, but this week, somehow, anyhow, Saints need to bring themselves closer to the Bears.

They have to find a way of fighting fire with fire in what are likely to be freezing conditions.

And it doesn't matter how they do it, they have to find a way to finally win.

Tom's prediction: Bristol are without some top players, as are Saints, and this will be a test of the strength of both squads. But with Saints on such a bad run, you struggle to see how they will cope with a Bears team who are oozing belief. I think Saints will show character but Bristol may be the ones who get over the line. Bristol 27 Saints 23.