Saints boss Dowson discusses team selection decisions ahead of Harlequins clash

The black, green and gold are guaranteed to finish top of the table, having won 14 of their 17 league matches ahead of the final round of games.

And with a PREM play-off semi-final at cinch Stadium at Franklin's Gardens looming on June 12, Saints will bid to get the balance right this week.

"There's players we want to make sure have the requisite minutes in case they have to step in in the next couple of weeks," said boss Dowson said.

"We need to make sure we're ready to go for the semi-final and if anything comes beyond that."

While Saints won't move in the table whatever happens at the Twickenham Stoop on Saturday afternoon, Bath, Leicester Tigers, Exeter Chiefs and Saracens all have important league positions to play for this weekend.

Bath know a win against Leicester would secure a home semi-final, though Leicester could steal that from them with the right result at The Rec.

Exeter can't get a home semi-final but they can secure a place in the play-offs by beating Saracens at Sandy Park.

However, Saracens know a win there by the necessary margin would see them move above Exeter into the top four.

So is Dowson glad that Saints aren't involved in the battle for position this weekend ahead of the play-offs?

"It can be seen through two different lenses, I think," he said.

"It's either the case that we don't need to be involved in a stressful situation or we're going to miss out on the opportunity to have a really intense game before a semi-final.

"So there are probably pros and cons on both sides, but it's good to be in a position where that home semi-final is cemented and we're allowed now to make decisions around what we want to do."

Saints have experience of preparing for big matches late in the season as last May they were gearing up for an Investec Champions Cup final against Union Bordeaux Bègles in Cardiff.

They named their strongest possible side the week before against Saracens, but were hit with several injuries in what was a brutal warm-up for the European showpiece.

So do experiences such as that shape Dowson's thinking when it comes to choosing which men will take to the field at the Stoop?

"Yeah, and it's on a case by case," the Saints boss said.

"We're making sure we treat the individuals as such and we don't have any sweeping statements around who we're going to pick and who we're not going to pick.

"We decide what's best for the club and what's best for the individuals within that."