Northampton were outfought by Saracens last weekend © Getty Images

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News: Borthwick reveals England heartache

Matches: Northampton Saints 27 - 21 Exeter Chiefs

Tournaments/Tours: Aviva Premiership

Teams: England | Exeter Chiefs | Northampton Saints

After taking their first genuine hammering since graduating into the top flight last weekend, Exeter have a fiendishly tough challenge as they travel to Franklin's Gardens to take on Northampton on Saturday.

The Saints suffered their first defeat of the season at a rain-lashed Vicarage Road last weekend and another loss to Saracens will not be sitting well following the events of last season. Exeter will be brave and gutsy, but can they cause a massive shock? Their performance against Harlequins would suggest that they are in for a tough afternoon.

Northampton - Player to Watch: Phil Dowson has been in superb form so far this season and takes the captain's armband this weekend. He must be nearing the England squad by now.

Northampton - Team News: Euan Murray and Brett Sharman make their first starts of the season while Courtney Lawes returns after being rested last weekend. Dylan Hartley sits this one out as part of the EPS rest schedule.

Exeter - Player to Watch: Fijian winger Sireli Naqelevuki makes his debut for the Chiefs, expect plenty of direct running and power from the former Stormers and Western Province man.

Exeter - Team News: Naqelevuki is joined in the starting XV by centre Phil Dollman and flanker Chad Slade following injuries to Nic Sestaret and James Phillips.

Key Battle: Tom Hayes and James Hanks will need to combat the aerial threat posed by Christian Day and the out and out power boasted by Lawes. The restarts and lineouts will be fiercely contested.

Trivia: The teams last met in the final of the National Trophy at Twickenham in 2008. Saints prevailed on the day, as they had in two National One meetings between the sides during the season.

Stats: Saints have only lost twice at home since February 2009, on both occasions to Saracens.

Quote Unquote: "From a Saints perspective I am looking for a lot of improvement from last Sunday's game at Saracens. Although we dominated for long periods we did not take our chances or adapt to how the referee was controlling the game." - Saints boss Jim Mallinder

"We always knew we would probably get results like that, even though we didn't want to get them. That was going to be the reality of where we've come from and where we are now." - Exeter coach Ali Hepher takes a philosophical view of their loss to Harlequins

Fantasy: Phil Dollman is back for the Chiefs and has been in fine try-scoring from so far this season and could be a banker in the ESPN Premiership Rugby Fantasy Game.

Prediction: Saints have to get back on track and are a fearsome proposition at home. Another character-building hammering for the Chiefs is in prospect.