Well, maybe that is a little too much wishful thinking on my part, but whatever the outcome I think after those first five GP games we can write on Jim and his team's early season report card that, yes, there are still things to be worked on, but overall we appear to be heading in the right direction.

With a six-week break coming up away from the rigours of the Guinness Premiership while Saints concentrate on Europe and the EDF Energy Cup it will be time to take stock in preparation for hitting the ground running again with the same gusto come November when the GP returns.

That is not to say that the feet will be off the gas in the interim – there are still competitions to contest, starting with the visit of Bristol in the EDF cup on Saturday.

I have made my views on the EDF known in this column before.

To me it is one competition too far in an already overcrowded season.

But for the cash it generates – it is said to be worth more to clubs than the European competitions – I am sure there would have been pressure to kick it into touch long before now.

You also have to question the wisdom of playing EDF games on a Saturday while playing the GP in midweek.

What is the priority?

I don't know what it is about the EDF but it just does not grab the imagination like its predecessor – the Tetley's/Pilington/Powergen/John Player Cup – ever did and ditching the lower league clubs and denying them a big pay day to include the Welsh regions, when we already play them in Europe, dented it further.

You only had to look at the attendance of last year's final day at Twickenham to see how high, or should that be how low, supporters hold it in regard now. I seem to remember almost full houses for our four visits over the last 20 years. Now I'm not so sure even a Saints v Tigers final would more than half fill HQ.

However, for the meantime we are in it and, depending on how our season shapes up, it could be a backdoor into the Heineken Cup next season.

The big question is just how much onus the club will put on winning the thing? In my mind, if you are targeting a HC berth by this route it is better to throw your kitchen sink at the European Challenge Cup as the French never take it too seriously and the majority of top English clubs are playing in the top comp.

Maybe, though, the coaches are considering a tilt at both, but with the thought that really this season is all about Guinness Premiership consolidation, perhaps both competitions will be used to give squad members a run while resting others.

I guess we will not know until the team is announced for both Saturday and the game down in Toulon a week today just how seriously we are taking the two competitions.

But going on last season's mantra of we are in it to win it, I would not be too surprised to hear we are having a big go at both.