Flanker Clark fully focused on Harlequins trip

Northampton know the game at The Stoop won’t have too much of an effect on their season as they have already qualified for the Premiership play-off semi-finals.

It will decide which team they play in the end-of-season shoot-out, with a win against Quins likely to signal a trip to Leicester as oppose to Saracens.

But flanker Clark is eager to solely focus on Saturday’s encounter, rather than worry about where his team will end up a week later.

“We’ve had a couple of good results recently, a couple of big wins, but you’ve got to prepare even better against the top sides,” said the England international.

“We know we’ve got three big challenges to come if we win our games, but you can’t look much further past the first one.”

Saints will be confident ahead of the next couple of weeks as they have produced much of their best rugby on the road this season, claiming fine wins at citadels such as Ravenhill and Kingsholm.

And while Clark is not getting too carried away, he is delighted his side are still in the hunt for a trophy.

“We’ve had some good wins away from home, but we’ve been patchy,” he said. “We’ve had some good performances, followed up by some bad ones.

“But we’ve got ourselves in with a chance at the end of the season, and that’s all you need really.

“We’ve got to prepare well and play well against some good sides in nice weather, good conditions. Let’s play some rugby.”

Clark has emerged from the bench during the past two games, making a successful comeback from a shoulder injury picked up at Glasgow in January.

The flexible forward says he’s feeling fresher than most as he looks to play a key part in Saints’ play-off push.

“I’m feeling good,” said Clark. “I’ve had a couple of half-hour stints off the bench and it’s been good to get out there and back playing.

“I’m feeling quite fresh. I’ve only played two games off the bench, whereas other lads have got a whole season in their legs, so I’m fresher than them.”