Northampton Saints head coach Sam Vesty has detailed his side will treat their visit to Sandy Park on Saturday like any normal game, despite the Chiefs recent purple patch at home.
The Devon side are unbeaten in their last 24 home matches-a run which stretches over 14 months; however the Saints travel down to the South West in fine form themselves as they sit top of the table.
Speaking to members of the media yesterday, Vesty described the mindset his group of players are in coming into this weekends clash.
“It’s the same (as any other game), it still starts at nil-nil and it lasts 80 minutes. I think that’s the mindset that you’ve got to have and we focus on ourselves and doing what we want to do and putting that on the park.” he said.
“It’s obviously a big challenge and I think they’re playing some really good rugby, their defence is putting teams under a lot of pressure and I think they’re playing with a lot of belief. They know exactly what they are and they look good being that.” he added.
“The challenge for us is being the best as we can be and taking it down on the road and really putting it on the park on Saturday. But I think you can overthink some of those things if you think too hard.”
Whilst the Chiefs are basking in glorious home form of late, the Saints have won their last three away games in all competitions-seeing off the likes of Saracens, Gloucester and Glasgow Warriors.
Their recent away form is one of the reasons they find themselves at the summit coming into the latest round of Premiership fixtures, and Vesty detailed why his side have finally delivered on their promise.
“I think there’s belief in what we’re doing and there’s trust in what the boys are doing and you only get that from doing it on the pitch and the experience of doing that.”
He added: “I think having, putting it together and having gone through some experiences, they know how to cope with those situations that perhaps in the past have we’ve struggled with a little bit and that experience is it is important and that belief and the trust that comes from knowing what you’re trying to do is evident I think.”
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