Saints scrum-half Fotuali’i wary of Leicester’s quality

But the Samoan scrum-half insists Saints will focus on what they’re good at at they bid to earn another victory at Franklin’s Gardens on Saturday.

Jim Mallinder’s men go into the Aviva Premiership clash sitting 10 points clear of the Tigers in the standings.

The men from up the M1 lost at the Gardens in the Premiership play-off semi-finals in May and have a fight on their hands to make the top four this time around.

But Fotuali’i knows Tigers traditionally come good, and wants Saints to stick to their game plan as they go in search of a fourth successive win in all competitions.

“Leicester a quality side,” said Fotuali’i, who scored a superb try in last Saturday’s 67-0 Champions Cup thrashing of Treviso.

“They don’t start off so strongly but this time of the year they’re bouncing.

“They’re a physical team and the big derby games are where they really stand up and when they’re under pressure to make the top four, they do it.

“But we know what we’re in for and we’ve got to play well this week as we have before.

“We’ve got to stick to our guns and get the victory.”

Fotuali’i will come up against Ben Youngs this weekend, renewing the rivalry for the first time since the clash between England and Samoa at Twickenham last month.

And the Saints man is looking forward to trying to outclass his fellow No.9.

“He’s a quality player and he’ll get around that field a lot so I’ve definitely got a tough battle on my hands,” said Fotuali’i.

“We’ve played against each other a lot and I’ll try to get one over on him again.”