Dowson knows new-look Newcastle will provide 'a very big challenge' for Saints
Phil Dowson is 'delighted' to see his former club Newcastle on the up.
And the Saints boss knows his side will face 'a very big challenge' when they welcome the new-look Red Bulls to Franklin's Gardens on Friday night (kick-off 7.45pm).
It will be a meeting of the teams who finished top and bottom of the Gallagher PREM table last season.
But the points gap will be expected to close somewhat this time round as Red Bull-backed Newcastle have invested heavily in their squad ahead of the new campaign.
And Dowson, who was a key player for Newcastle before he made the move to Saints in 2009, said: "It's exciting.
"Obviously a huge amount of recruitment has been done throughout last season and over the summer, and it's a team who are desperate to show what they're capable of.
"They have the backing of sports giant Red Bull and they've got a side who will be desperate, that has tons of talent and will be eager to hit the ground running and take a scalp."
When asked whether he has been happy to see Newcastle moving forward under fresh ownership, Dowson said: "Big time.
"I've got lots of friends who still work there who have suffered some hard times from a financing point of view. There's lots of very talented people.
"I'm delighted because you can't have a league with nine teams in it.
"It was very touch and go a couple of seasons ago about who would come in (to finance the club) and it speaks volumes about the game in general with Red Bull, Dyson and Black Knight investing.
"It says the game is getting investment and it's very positive for Newcastle, but hopefully we can continue to do what we aspire to do."
Saints are reigning PREM champions but they will take on a Newcastle team who have signed three members of last season's title-winning squad.
Sam Graham, Elliot Millar Mills and Tom West all made the move to Kingston Park during the summer.
"It will be a very big challenge and there are elements that are unknown," Dowson said, discussing the PREM opener against Red Bulls.
"They went to Welford Road (to face Leicester Tigers) and were very good in the PRC (PREM Rugby Cup) so we're under no illusions about the quality of the group.
"We know that Sam Graham, Elliot Millar Mills and Tom West have a very good understanding of how we want to play and who we are, and they'll be feeding that back into their group so we're under no illusions."
Saints lost both of their PREM Rugby Cup matches to start their competitive campaign, but they beat Black Lion 93-10 in a pre-season encounter at the Gardens last Friday.
And when asked whether he feels Saints are now fully prepared for the PREM to start, Dowson said: "You always feel like that because it's pre-season but you don't really find out until you play that (first league) game.
"The game will give us the feedback we need to find out where we're ready and not so ready.
"Hopefully we'll be in a good space but I can only comment on the effort, professionalism and the emotional investment the players have had in pre-season – and that's been excellent."