With Northampton Saints seemingly heading towards an unbeaten season in National League One, scrum.com assess their chances of a successful return to the Guinness Premiership.

It is almost a year ago since Northampton Saints pulled off the result of last season's Heineken Cup with a 7-6 win in San Sebastien against the 2006 finalists Biarritz.

The two thousand-or-so fans who made the trip to the Basque country were certainly in heaven that Sunday afternoon. But only a few weeks later they were crying into their beer as the Saints slipped out of the Premiership for the first time in 12 years.

Relegation resulted in a change of management with Jim Mallinder, fresh from Churchill Cup success with the England Saxons, coming in as director of rugby. Dorian West, Mallinder's long-time coaching partner, also arrived at Northampton to guide the forwards with Paul Grayson staying on as assistant coach.

The comings and goings in the coaches' office were not replicated in the first team squad. Of those players contracted for 2007/08 only two left. Pat Barnard headed to London Wasps while Ben Cohen walked out of his home-town club a week before the NL1 season started.

So a squad that had shown its quality and resilience by being the first English side to win at Welford Road in over three years, and with Carlos Spencer, Mark Robinson, Bruce Reihana et al still in the ranks, was facing trips to Sedgley Park, Launceston and Esher.

Cohen's departure created plenty of headlines, but after the first 80 minutes of the campaign the World Cup-winner had been forgotten thanks to a remarkable debut from former Wigan Warrior Chris Ashton. Thrown on as a second half replacement against London Welsh, Ashton showed off his searing pace as he scored with his first touch of the ball. It was the first try of what would be a sensational first season in rugby union.

Ashton has gone on to score 33 tries, setting a new NL1 record in the process. The rest of the team has followed suit, running in 165 tries and over 1,100 points. Of their 27 games, only seven have yielded a bonus point, and with their win over second-placed Exeter Chiefs the Saints had won the league earlier than any other team since Richmond in 1989.

Several of the other coaches have described the Saints as the best team to play NL1 rugby. This is a strong claim, especially as Harlequins had the likes of Andrew Mehrtens among their number for their run to the title two seasons ago.

Nevertheless Harlequins are a useful yardstick. The Saints may be only 80 minutes away from emulating the Londoners' league and cup double, but they would prefer to replicate Quins' performances since returning to the Premiership. Qualification for the Heineken Cup in the first season and a genuine push for the play-offs in the second have shown that a good NL1 campaign can be the foundation for a successful future.

There will certainly be no shortage of top class players at Franklin's Gardens for their return to the big time. Reihana and Spencer have signed new two-year contracts and they will be joined by international back rowers Neil Best, Roger Wilson and prop Petru Balan, as well as England prospects Ben Foden (scrum-half), Chris Mayor (centre) and Nils Mordt (centre). Mallinder has said that he is still actively recruiting with more names to be announced.

Another new face at Franklin's Gardens is head of performance Nick Johnston, who was regarded as a key member of the backroom staff that guided Sale to the 2006 Premiership title.

Quality imports are one thing, but Harlequins have built their run to the top four on a talented crop of home-grown youngsters. And in this area too the Saints are following in Quins' footsteps. When he arrived in Northampton Mallinder stated his intention to make full use of the club's Senior Academy, and as the season has gone on he has been true to his word.

Four members of the Senior Academy played in the most recent game against third-placed Nottingham. Two more have worn a first team shirt this season and Joe Gray, James Cannon and John Brake played in England Under-20's Grand Slam. Brake is also a core member of the England Sevens squad and was in Hong Kong this weekend.

Mallinder could have his hands on a heady combination of youth and experience, and with the support of the Saints faithful, who on their travels have more often than not outnumbered the home support, Northampton could be on the verge of something special.

But as Leeds have demonstrated, it takes a lot more that guts and a good player or two to succeed in the Premiership.