Pearson excited as Saints facing 'a big couple of months'

TOM Pearson says he and his Northampton teammates are targeting a 'big couple of months ahead' as they look to make their mark, both in terms of domestic and European action.

- MARK STEVENS

The defending Premiership champions have so far failed to hit the same heights of last season, where they pocketed their second title success with victory over Bath at Twickenham.

According to Pearson, though, Saints are quietly tuning their engines backon at Franklin's Gardens, ready to put the pedal to the floor as the season enters into its final straight.

"I want to go as far as I can with Saints in all three competitions that we're still in," said the dynamic back row forward. "It's not just myself, but as a team as well, we've got a big couple of months ahead."

As well as the task of trying to haul themselves back into the Premiership play-off picture - they sit in eighth spot, nine points adrift of Leicester in fourth Saints also have Clermont Auvergne to face in the Champions Cup in April, and played Ealing Trailfinders yesterday in the Premiership Cup quarter-final.