Van Velze confident Saints can regain top form and see off Leicester

Jim Mallinder’s men go into Saturday’s east midlands derby at Franklin’s Gardens desperate to earn local bragging rights and further their claims for a top-two spot in the Aviva Premiership.

But Leicester have been in good form of late, smashing Exeter 45-15 last weekend to record their fifth win in succession.

Van Velze isn’t fazed, though, and he feels Saints are more than capable of claiming their first win in 10 meetings with Tigers.

“We know what it is and a lot of passion and history comes into that game,” said the South African No.8.

“We’re taking it day by day in this training week and come Saturday, it’s another 80 minutes.

“We know if we perform well the result will always come our way, like it’s been in the 13 games before Exeter.

“If we don’t perform well we won’t win. That’s the beauty of this competition.”

After a run of 13 consecutive wins, Saints have suffered back-to-back defeats.

But van Velze is adamant the losses to Exeter and Sale are nothing but a blip.

He said: “We’ve had a really good run up until now and this is just a bump in the road.

“Now we’ve got another really big week in the Premiership before we break up for European comps again.”