Loose-head prop Soane Tonga'uiha has played an integral part in Northampton's impressive form this season © Getty Images

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Matches: Northampton Saints 23 - 15 Cardiff Blues

Tournaments/Tours: Heineken Cup

Teams: Cardiff Blues | Northampton Saints

Grounds: Franklin's Gardens

The high-flying Northampton Saints have the opportunity to take a significant step towards the quarter-finals when they collide with the Cardiff Blues at Franklin's Gardens on Saturday evening.

The Saints are currently leading the way in the Aviva Premiership, after eight wins from nine games, and they also sit proudly atop Heineken Cup Pool 1, three points clear of Castres and Cardiff.

The Blues lie third in the Magners League but their form has been patchy at best this term and they will need to rediscover the levels of performance which saw them claim last year's Amlin Challenge Cup if they are to upset the Saints on their own patch and keep their qualification hopes alive.

Northampton Saints - Player to Watch: All the focus in the build-up has been on the Saints pack and their talisman, Soane Tonga'uiha. The giant loose-head will want to outshine his opposite number, Gethin Jenkins, who is regarded in some quarters as the best in the business.

Northampton Saints - Team News: Jim Mallinder has a full deck to choose from and has opted for former Cardiff scrum-half Ryan Powell ahead of Lee Dickson, while Stephen Myler retains the No.10 jersey. Phil Dowson starts at blindside, Tom Wood at openside and Roger Wilson at No.8.

Cardiff Blues - Player to Watch: Bradley Davies is building a reputation as one of the most physical young locks in Europe - he will need to match Courtney Lawes blow-for-blow this weekend if Cardiff are to have parity up front.

Cardiff Blues - Team News: The Blues are missing a number of key players as Leigh Halfpenny, Ben Blair, Jamie Roberts and Deiniol Jones are all sidelined. Tom James returns on the wing in place of Gavin Evans, while Davies is recalled in the second-row and Martyn Williams at openside.

Key Battle: Saints fly-half Myler has been growing in confidence in recent weeks and his battle with the ultra-conservative but dependable Dan Parks could go a long way to deciding this one.

Trivia: The Blues have played more Heineken Cup games against English oppostion than French, Irish, Welsh or Italian, winning 58% of their ties.

Stats: The teams have met on four occasions in Europe - the Saints winning three times.

Quote Unquote:

"Dai Young has a squad packed with experience and talent that also knows what it is like to win trophies. They showed their character in their last Heineken Cup match by coming from a long way down to get a point at Castres and have been going well in the Magners League this season." - Mallinder sings the Blues' praises.

"Leigh Halfpenny is progressing really well. He might miss the European games but maybe back for Ospreys. Ben Blair is still injured with his knee. It's a ligament problem in the back of knee which is ongoing. He's had an injection to help it. It's nothing structural and doesn't need an operation." - Dai Young clears up some of the Blues' injury worries.

Prediction: It's hard to look beyond the Saints' pack. The Blues are ravaged by injury in key areas and will not be able to stem the flow. If the Welsh region pick up a losing bonus-point they will celebrate long and hard. Home win.