Saints are set for a December double-header against Leinster after the fixtures for the first four rounds of this season’s Heineken Cup were revealed on Monday afternoon.
Jim Mallinder’s men will host the RaboDirect PRO12 and Amlin Challenge Cup champions on December 7 before heading to the Aviva Stadium in Dublin for the return game seven days later.
Both matches will kick off at 6pm, bringing back memories of last season’s unforgettable clashes with Ulster.
Saints were thrashed 25-6 by the Irish giants in an evening game at Franklin’s Gardens in early December but avenged that defeat with a stunning 10-9 victory in Belfast a week later.
During that campaign, which saw Northampton eliminated at the pool stages, they also faced Castres.
And they will do so again this time round, making the trip to the Top 14 champions on the opening weekend of the competition (October 12).
A home game against Ospreys comes eight days later (October 20), with the dates for the final two rounds of the pool stages yet to be confirmed.
Saints’ 2013/14 Heineken Cup dates
Sat, Oct 12: Castres (a), 4.40pm
Sun, Oct 20: Ospreys (h), 12.45pm
Sat, Dec 7: Leinster (h), 6pm
Sat, Dec 14: Leinster (a), 6pm
Jan 10/11/12: Ospreys (a)
Jan 17/18/19: Castres (h)