'Outside noises' will not distract Saints - Chick

Northampton Saints back row Callum Chick says they will not allow "outside noises" to distract them in their bid for success this season.

Saints were seen by some as underdogs for their post-Christmas game at Bath, which they won 41-21 to regain top spot in the Prem table.

But they will be favourites for Saturday's home match against Harlequins, who are eighth after winning just two out of eight so far.

"It's all about DNA. It doesn't matter who we play against, or any outside noises, we always focus on ourselves and if we can do exactly what we speak about, we should be able to put a performance in that is required to win a game," Chick told BBC Radio Northampton.

"For us, and for any team, there's always going to be things said in the media, people talking around it, but we just focus on ourselves and do our jobs."

Chick left Newcastle to join a Northampton team that won the title in 2024 and went all the way to the European Champions Cup final last season.

They have made a good start to both competitions in the current campaign and lead the Prem table by one point from Exeter Chiefs.

Director of rugby Phil Dowson has named a strong line-up to take on Harlequins with England internationals Fraser Dingwall, Fin Smith and Alex Mitchell among those returning to the starting XV.

"Quins are Quins - they are dangerous," Chick added.

"They always have been and always will be. They'll play a brand of rugby where they want to throw the ball around and play wide against us and if they click, they've got a chance of coming here and playing well.

"We don't want to get ahead of ourselves, it's just game by game. This week it's Quins - obviously in the back of our minds is getting into the top four and hopefully a home semi-final - but to do that you have to win games.

"There's no point worrying about what could be, you have to worry about what is."

Tommy Freeman switched from the wing to centre against Bath, and will do so again for the Quins game, having scored a hat-trick at the Rec.

"He's played 13 for us before and on the international stage so he's not staking claims any more, he's proving he can do it really well, he's an outstanding individual player," Dowson said.

The game will be an 11th successive sell-out at Franklin's Gardens and Dowson admitted fitting so many talented players into his team was a headache.

"It does allow us to manage the squad and try to make sure we keep people fresh and keep people hungry," he added.