Northampton and Leicester prepare to do battle in Premiership semi-final

http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2014/may/15/northampton-leicester-premiership-semi-final-preview

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It does not need a Premiership semi-final to ignite the rivalry between Northampton and Leicester. The East Midlands derby would be just as combustible if the two clubs were meeting on the last weekend of the regular season languishing in mid-table obscurity, never mind scrapping once again for the league title.

It is a fixture that tests referees as no other, having produced almost enough cards this decade to decorate a living room at Christmas: Northampton's captain, Dylan Hartley, missing because of a shoulder injury, was sent off in last year's Premiership final between the sides and in the two years before that Tom Wood and Alesana Tuilagi saw red and Manu Tuilagi was cited and banned for punching Chris Ashton. The 2012 LV Cup final between the sides earned the Saints' flanker Calum Clark a 32-week suspension for badly injuring the Leicester hooker Rob Hawkins.

Leicester finished the most recent encounter between the sides, at Franklin's Gardens six weeks ago, with 13 men after receiving two yellow cards in two minutes. They held on to their lead to record a third successive victory at the ground and extend their unbeaten run in the Premiership against the Saints to nine matches, a sequence that includes two meetings in the knock-out stages.

Northampton's last league success against their rivals was in September 2010, a day when the England flanker Wood made his debut for the Saints. "I am sick and tired of losing to them," he said. "There has been some controversy and a few decisions have gone against us but some of it has been our own doing and we have not turned up. We have come up too short against Leicester and other top teams on the big occasions and Friday is a real opportunity for us. Leicester are not in our heads: they are very beatable. They have had our number for too long and we owe them a few."

Leicester have played in the last nine finals and have never lost at the semi-final stage, although they have travelled away from Welford Road only once, to Gloucester in 2008. Their team includes 10 of the players who started last year's final, with the Toulouse-bound Toby Flood recalled at outside-half, while Northampton have only seven survivors and a new front row.

"It will be a mental battle for us but a physical one as well," said the Northampton director of rugby, Jim Mallinder. "You have to go out there and do it. We have the belief: we know we can beat them and everyone is revved up.

"Defensively we're going to have to be on top of our game and play some really good, attacking rugby. We can't just get into a brawl against them. It's not just going to be set piece. It's going to be 15 men. We play our best when we're playing 15-man rugby and that's what we've got to look to do. They have a good recent record against us and they have not lost a Premiership semi-final but all things come to an end. You would not have expected Clermont Auvergne to lose at home to Castres last weekend after 77 matches unbeaten at their own ground but they did."

Mallinder's opposite number, Richard Cockerill, has indulged in mind games this week, claiming Northampton's desire to stop Leicester from retaining the title is greater than their desire to win it. "He likes to stir the pot," said Mallinder. "They will come here as favourites and we know what we are up against but this is the strongest squad I have worked with here and we have the X factor at forward and behind. We are here to win big trophies."

Leicester's record against the other clubs in the top four this season is not impressive, with only two victories in six matches – at Northampton and last weekend against Saracens' reserves. "It has been a tough season for us with so many injuries but we have a good record at this stage and we have already won at Franklin's Gardens this season," said Cockerill. "We will need to play better than we have all season and we are always motivated when we face Northampton. They are a good side and I have a huge amount of respect for them but we know how to get to where we want to go."