Saints boss Mallinder looking forward to Bedford friendly

Jim Mallinder takes his Saints team to Bedford tonight

Saints boss Jim Mallinder is looking forward to seeing some of the club's fringe players in action at Bedford Blues tonight (kick-off 7.45pm).

Mallinder’s men head to Goldington Road to take on the championship side in a friendly that will provide good preparation the big east midlands derby against Leicester Tigers at Franklin’s Gardens on March 25.

With Bedford not having a league game this weekend, Saints, who were eliminated from the Anglo-Welsh Cup at the pool stage after finishing second behind Saracens, stepped in to provide some opposition.

And Mallinder said: “We were disappointed to go out of the Anglo-Welsh Cup because we won three out of our four games. It was disappointing we didn’t get through to the semi-finals, but that’s life.

“The lads have had a bit of time off and we’re swapping the team around for the Bedford game.

“We’re giving opportunities to lads who haven’t had much game time and then we’ll be building towards the Leicester game.”