Leinster v Northampton Saints: Tom Vickers' big match preview

Competition: Champions Cup (pool game two of four)

Venue: RDS Arena, Dublin

Date and kick-off time: Saturday, December 19, 2020, 1pm

Weather: 9c, mostly sunny

Live television coverage: BT Sport 2

Referee: Pierre Brousset (France)

Leinster: O'Brien; Keenan, Ringrose, Henshaw, D Kearney; H Byrne, Gibson-Park; Healy, Kelleher, Porter; Baird, Ryan; Ruddock (c), van der Flier, Doris.

Replacements: Tracy, Dooley, Bent, Molony, Murphy, McGrath, R Byrne, Leavy.

Saints: Collins; Olowofela, Dingwall, Hutchinson, Naiyaravoro; Furbank, James; Waller (c), Matavesi, Hill; Moon, Ratuniyarawa; Isiekwe, Wood, Adendorff.

Replacements: Haywood, van Wyk, Franks, Coles, Harrison, Taylor, Francis, Proctor.

Outs: Saints: Dan Biggar (knee), Danny Hobbs-Awoyemi (Achilles), Lewis Ludlam (shin), Ollie Sleightholme (ankle), Kayde Sylvester (Achilles).

Most recent meeting: Saturday, December 14, 2019: Leinster 50 Saints 21 (Champions Cup pool stages)

Tom's preview: The clock has hit 80 and Leinster are cranking up the heat at the RDS Arena.

A blue wave continues to wash towards the Saints line.

But it's met by ferocious defence, with Leinster player after Leinster player seeing their avenue blocked.

Finally, the ball is flung towards big No.8 Caelan Doris, who sets his sights on the line.

But he fumbles, the ball falls and Ryan Olowofela races forward.

The wing picks up possession inside his own 22 and fixes his sights firmly on the other end of the field.

His pace is too much and he flies away, supported by Fraser Dingwall and Tom Collins.

The ground falls silent - it was already as there are no fans present - and all you can hear are thunderous footsteps.

And then... Olowofela dots down.

Saints have won in Dublin.

Collins and Dingwall hug their team-mate as smiles finally adorn Saints faces again.

And then we all wake up.

It was a nice dream while it lasted.

A replica of December 2013, when Northampton marched on Dublin and delivered one of the best results in the club's history.

Reflections on that magical night came earlier this week, on the seventh anniversary of the most sensational of successes.

When Saints turned the tables on Leinster with an 18-9 win in enemy territory it proved to be the platform to a season that brought a sensational double.

Saints didn't lose again until March and that run laid the foundations for glory in the Premiership and the European Challenge Cup.

It is so hard to see anything remotely similar happening this time round, especially after a run of 11 successive defeats.

But if fans can't dream then what else is there?

It would be incredible to think that this Saints squad could replicate the 2013 group by winning in Dublin again this weekend.

In truth, the gap between Saints and Leinster has grown wider and wider during the past seven years.

Saints have lost their past four games against the Irish giants - and they haven't even been close.

So to hope they can deliver in Dublin again, this time at the RDS Arena rather than the Aviva Stadium, would be fanciful.

But if you don't have hope, you don't have much.

And for Saints, this weekend has to be another building block towards the three big Premiership games that follow in the weeks to come.

Chris Boyd has played down the significance of that domestic run, insisting every game is important and no teams are a target for wins.

But you can't deny that Saints really need results when they return home next week.

They have to start somewhere, and a Boxing Day victory against Worcester in front of 2,000 Saints fans would be the way to do it.

First though, they have to navigate this horribly tricky test in Dublin.

If they can come out of it with credibility, that would be enough for most supporters in the current situation.

It won't be easy, but if you listen to the players this week they are excited rather than daunted.

And let's hope it remains that way for the entirety of the encounter.

Tom's prediction: It's hard to see anything other than a Leinster win given the situation the two sides find themselves in. Saints won't be thinking like that, but you have to feel the hosts will be too strong here. Saints have more important matches to come in the weeks ahead. Leinster 30 Saints 15.