Director of rugby: Jim Mallinder
Captain: Dylan Hartley
Ground: Franklin's Gardens (13,591 capacity)
Last season: GP - 8th ECC Winners
England elite squad: 1 (Hartley)

Having won the European Challenge Cup and enjoyed a decent first season back in the Guinness Premiership, Saints look well placed to mount a challenge for the play-offs this time.

It will be interesting to see how England hooker Dylan Hartley copes with the captaincy, but the signings of Aussie lock Dan Vickerman and back-row Phil Dowson will give the pack a hardened edge.

The prospect of new arrival Shane Geraghty and Ben Foden weaving their magic in the backline could enhance the England prospects of both players.

"We want to improve. We had a good season last season, we were pleased to consolidate and come eighth and it was nice to win some silverware. But we want we want to crack on now and improve. It's a tough league and we are in a tough Heineken Cup group but that is where want to be, challenging and hopefully beating the best teams in Europe."
Director of rugby Jim Mallinder