Harlequins v Northampton Saints: Tom Vickers' big match preview

Competition: Gallagher Premiership (round 17)

Venue: Twickenham Stoop

Date and kick-off time: Sunday, August 30, 2020, 2pm

Live television coverage: BT Sport 1

Weather: 17c, mostly cloudy

Referee: Craig Maxwell-Keys (77th Premiership game)

Harlequins: Brown; Ashton, Marchant, Lasike, Earle; Smith, Care; Marler, Baldwin, Kerrod; Lewis, Symons; Robshaw (c), Evans, Dombrandt.

Replacements: Gray, Garcia Botta, Collier, Lamb, Chisholm, Steele, Lang, Morris.

Saints: Furbank; Olowofela, Procter, Hutchinson, Collins; Grayson, Mitchell; Hobbs-Awoyemi, Haywood, Painter; Moon, Isiekwe; Gibson, Ludlam (c), Adendorff.

Replacements: Marshall, Auterac, Hill, Ribbans, Harrison, Taylor, Dingwall, Naiyaravoro.

Outs: Saints: Alex Coles (ankle), Harry Mallinder (knee), Ollie Sleightholme (hamstring), Connor Tupai (wrist), Alex Waller (achilles), Tom Wood (illness).

Tom's preview: Last season, Saints headed to The Stoop with their top-four hopes hanging by a thread.

They knew that a defeat at Harlequins would put them in a precarious position when it came to trying to make the play-offs.

But as it turned out, they held their nerve, using their bench to provide the extra impetus they required to claim the narrowest of victories.

Alex Mitchell and James Grayson came on and earned late 'gamechanger' status as the former scored an eye-catching try and the latter kicked the conversion to win the match.

This weekend, though, Mitchell and Grayson will be asked to deliver the same ruthless streak from the start.

And this weekend, Saints need more of the same from all of their squad as they look to edge to a victory that would keep their top-four flame burning.

They are hoping for another big show from their bench, replacing the fresh but inexperienced replacements approach with more senior nous.

They know they need it because not only will they need to be good for 50 or 60 minutes, they will need to be at it for the full 80.

Harlequins rested their key men during the midweek defeat at Worcester and have now brought them back in.

It is a strong home line-up and one that has lost just once at home in the Premiership since November.

But Saints have saved their best stuff for away trips in 2020, winning at Wasps, Worcester and The Stoop last weekend as they saw off London Irish.

And they simply have to deliver another big display on the road with games against the likes of Exeter and Bristol on the horizon.

It won't be easy, but when have Saints ever done anything the easy way?

Especially at The Stoop.

Tom's prediction: Saints really need to win this but Harlequins have selected a very strong side and are tough to beat on home turf. Nevertheless, it's time to keep the faith. Harlequins 21 Saints 23.