Saints have their final two pre-season matches this weekend to dial in tactics and combinations against Cardiff tonight and Italians Treviso on Sunday.

It looks like both Lee Dickson and Ben Foden will start a game each this weekend, after Alan Dickens started at Nottingham last week and Foden began the game against Western Force.

Foden is set to start at the Arms Park tonight and he will have Barry Everitt as his half-back partner, while Dickson looks set to begin on Sunday against Treviso.

After the endless debate about Ben Foden's best position, he has yet to be used at full-back, though that could happen tonight.

Foden is probably Mallinder's most exciting signing and the Saints boss is keen to use his versatility.

"I think the scrum-halves we've got will give us good competition and strength in depth," said Mallinder.

"We have very young scrum halves, who are really out to improve and progress and show what they can do.

"Both Lee and Ben were involved in the Saxons so you know they are definitely up and coming.

"And we've got Alan Dickens who has been around a bit and he's the first to admit that, but he's got some really good experience and knows how to run a game.

"And then we've got a young lad called John Brake who's very promising.

He's been involved in the England Under-20 set-up and the Sevens circuit and he's going to be pushing all three of them along the way."

With the opening Guinness Premiership clash against Worcester just nine days away, Mallinder is eager to see an improvement from last week's 22-3 win over Western Force, which was a flattering scoreline in the end.

"With only a week to go before the Premiership it is important that we have strength in depth," said Mallinder. "This weekend is all about giving game time to as many players as possible and giving them the opportunity to put their hand up for selection for the Worcester match.

"Both Cardiff and Treviso are used to playing at the highest level in the Heineken Cup, which means that our players will have to put in good performances if they want to stand out.

"We took some steps forward last weekend. Our youngsters had a physical outing against Nottingham while the game against the Force was a real test of our pace and ability to last the full 80 minutes of fast action.

I am looking for this to happen again on Friday and Sunday."

Saints squad: Backs: Joe Ansbro, John Brake, Paul Diggin, Barry Everitt, Ben Foden, Nick Greenhalgh, Will Harries, Chris Mayor, Nils Mordt, Ollie Storey.

Forwards: Ben Broster, James Cannon, Stuart Friswell, Owen Giles, Dylan Hartley, Mark Hopley, Courtney Lawes, Ben Lewitt, Matt Lord, Rob Milligan, Liam Neale, Alex Rae, Tom Smith, Barry Stewart.