Ben Foden has described Wasps as ‘a team on fire’ – but says Saints know what they need to do to deal with their top four rivals this weekend.
Both sides have enjoyed back-to-back weekends off after being knocked out of the LV= Cup before the semi-final stage.
But they will now be desperate to hit their straps as they scrap it out for a Premiership play-off place, with Saints currently sitting fourth and Wasps three points behind in sixth.
Foden knows the importance of Saturday’s showdown and though he is wary of the Wasps’ sting, he feels Northampton are ready to front up.
“They’re a team that are on fire at the moment, especially their back three, with their flyers (Tom Varndell and Christian Wade) on the wing,” said the England star.
“We know the dangers and the threats. They’ve got a good squad and the reason they’re knocking on the door is because they perform pretty well, especially over the past two or three months.
“We know what we’ve got to do.”
Foden goes into Saturday’s game feeling fresh, having been an unused member of England’s Six Nations squad.
He was an interested observer as the Red Rose lost 30-3 to Wales last weekend, ending their hopes of a Grand Slam and a title.
And Foden said: “Against Italy things started to turn a little bit south and that game didn’t give us the points needed to take on Wales.
“Once Wales knew they needed eight points to become the Six Nations champions it put their tails in the air and they came out and played a brilliant brand of rugby.
“We’re an England team that’s been caught on occasions for sitting back and seeing what teams throw at us.
“We wait too long to play our style of rugby and get ourselves in the game. That was something we were guilty of at the weekend, letting them play their style of rugby.”