'Don't worry about playing any ghosts', Dowson tells Saints

The black, green and gold have endured some tough experiences at Bath, having not won there since coming back from 19 points down to deliver a memorable 36-31 success in April 2022.

But while Dowson is keen for his side to learn from recent away losses against the current league leaders, he insists they must only focus on what is in front of them this weekend.

"It's taken into account and we try to keep what's relevant from those experiences," the Saints boss said.

"At the same time, lots of teams' records aren't great here (at cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens) but that doesn't mean we don't value what we're doing at home as well.

"You can take something from it and things we need to do differently in terms of how we apply ourselves, but the game's the game and we need to make sure we don't worry about playing any ghosts.

"We've got to worry about playing on Saturday."

Saints are currently three points and two points below table-toppers Bath in the PREM standings.

"It's still early days in terms of being in that top two and top four," Dowson said. "It's definitely where we want to be and it's what we aspire to do, but there's nine other clubs that are trying to do the same.

"We know how much quality is in our group but it's a very tough competition and we've been talking here about how tight it is, and the difference between top and eighth isn't huge."

Saturday's game at The Rec is a meeting of the two most recent Gallagher PREM champions.

Saints beat Bath in the 2024 final before Bath defeated Leicester Tigers in the 2025 showpiece.

"In the past Bath have been renowned for a very strong forward pack, and I certainly think they bring that, but across the gamut of the game, they're very, very good," Dowson said.

"With Ben Spencer and Finn Russell, they've got international half-backs and they've got an outrageously good backline with lots of different ways to hurt you.

"There is a power game, there is an aerial game that they're very, very good at in terms of most kicks retained in the comp, and the ability for those guys to get the ball back is impressive.

"We've got to be on our mettle and what we're excited about is the opportunity for us to test ourselves against one of the best sides in the league and in Europe."

When asked what Saints' approach will be this weekend, Dowson said: "We've got to try to get our game on the pitch, try to get some speed through the breakdown and make sure we get going forward from a set piece point of view.

"The battle is trying to put your game on them and that comes down to the physical battle.

"I know (Bath boss) Johan van Graan would say something very similar in terms of being hugely physical in attack and defence.

"The technical elements have to be on-point as well."

Saints have claimed three successive bonus-point wins ahead of this weekend's game.

But Dowson said: "We are always trying to push. We're a development club so there's always things we're trying to get better at on and off the field as coaches and players.

"The game's never perfect, there's always things we can be better at.

"There's definite room for improvement and I can't commend the squad highly enough for how they try to do that.

"We've got a cracking group of lads who will keep pushing and pushing to try to find every bit of performance in it."