Northampton director of rugby Jim Mallinder says that the Saints' recent form will count for nothing if they don't leave Bristol with a Guinness Premiership win on Sunday afternoon.

During October Saints earned a place in the EDF Energy Cup semi-final and two wins in the European Challenge Cup. But Mallinder today insisted that success in these two competitions should not come at the expense of Guinness Premiership survival.

"Staying in the Guinness Premiership is the ultimate aim for our season and Sunday's match is key in our campaign," he said. "Bristol have not had the best of starts but they are playing well without getting the final result. They have been competitive at the Memorial Stadium, running Sale close in the league and leading Saracens for most of their EDF Energy Cup match two weeks ago.

"They have some dangerous players and we cannot go into the game with any complacency. We have only got two wins in the Premiership from the first five rounds and the trip to Bristol is very important to generate some momentum in the league."

NORTHAMPTON SAINTS TEAM TO PLAY BRISTOL

Guinness Premiership Round 6
Memorial Stadium
Sunday, November 16th, 2008
Kick off 3pm
15 Ben Foden
14 Chris Ashton
13 Chris Mayor
12 James Downey
11 Bruce Reihana (capt)
10 Stephen Myler
9 Lee Dickson
1 Tom Smith
2 Paul Shields
3 Barry Stewart
4 Ignacio Fernandez Lobbe
5 Christian Day
6 Mark Hopley
7 Mark Easter
8 Roger Wilson

Replacements
16 Joe Gray
17 Soane Tonga'uiha
18 Juandre Kruger
19 Courtney Lawes
20 Alan Dickens
21 Carlos Spencer
22 Nils Mordt

---