Allan Robson should be on the phone to Uncle Keith begging to find out what he’s been taking and if he can sell it in the club shop. For ‘Sanguinity’, as it would surely be called, would fly off the shelves as we the fans seek to rid ourselves of the depressing Guinness Premiership form that has plagued us thus far this season.

I wish I could have sprayed myself before beginning this preview, as I have a sense of foreboding before tonight’s visit of Wasps to the Gardens.

I always seem to bag myself this fixture – either home or away – as the one to focus my thoughts on how we’re doing at that point in the campaign. Yes, that’s because I volunteer for it, primarily because it allows me to vent my spleen at the nomadic existence and excruciating success (from a Saintly point of view) that Wasps have had for much of the past decade.

But this time I’m going to turn my attention to the home side, our men in gold, black and green, because the next two weeks could be a turning point in our season. Wasps (h), Saracens (a), Worcester (h), Bristol (a). Four fixtures that if all lost – and this is conceivable without the greatest stretch of the imagination – would see us locked in a relegation battle to rival that of two seasons ago.

So this makes the first of those, in front of the Sky cameras (if they can see anything through the fog) this evening more important than possibly any other during 2006/07.

Here’s the good news – aside from the fact it’s now December rather than our traditionally rubbish November. Defensive rock David Quinlan is back in the 12 shirt after a five week absence due to a stinger injury. And French winger Matthieu Bourret – scorer of possibly the fastest home debut try in Northampton history - who missed the two Parma matches through ineligibility, takes over the 11 shirt from Chris Wyles.

The interesting selection is Digger at full-back with Vaughan Going on the bench. If there is one mistake, IMHO, this is it. Collecting Parma kicks is one thing; having Tom Voyce, Paul Sackey and Josh Lewsey bearing down on you is a different prospect altogether. Here’s hoping Air Digger can stand up to the challenge. Unfortunately, if it doesn’t come off it could be too late, as when John Rudd stayed on for one too many plays last season and Dallaglio set up a try-scoring move against Rudd’s wing.

Elsewhere Tom Smith, David Gerard and Darren Fox are back in the pack, although Mark Easter is unlucky to miss out after making a massive impact in the second half last Saturday.

Oh, and Los is back at 10, although I suspect that had Stephen Myler been fit their 10/13 partnership would have continued.

Here’s the Saints squad…

15 Paul Diggin

14 SEAN LAMONT

13 Robbie Kydd

12 DAVID QUINLAN

11 Matthieu Bourret

10 CARLOS SPENCER

9 MARK ROBINSON

1 TOM SMITH

2 STEVE THOMPSON

3 Pat Barnard

4 DAVID GERARD

5 Christian Short

6 PAUL TUPAI

7 Darren Fox

8 Daniel Browne

16 Dylan Hartley

17 Chris Budgen

18 Matt Lord

19 Mark Easter

20 Ian Vass

21 VAUGHAN GOING

22 Seamus Mallon

London Wasps Director of Rugby Ian McGeechan has tinkered only the tiniest amount in his Wasps’ line up.

The changes come at hooker and scrum half, where Joe Ward comes in for the rested Raphael Ibanez and Simon Amor, returning from Sevens duty earlier this month, replaces Eoin Reddan, who has been ill this week.

Nineteen year-old Dominic Waldouck retains his place in the centre for what will be his first Premiership start after two impressive performances in Europe over the last fortnight, one of them winning him a Man of the Match Award.

Wasps also bring into the match back-to-back Heineken Cup wins against Italian opposition and a naff November run that saw them win only one from four in the Premiership. But the visitors also have a good record at the Gardens having won in both their last two visits.

15 Mark Van Gisbergen

14 Paul Sackey

13 Dominic Waldouck

12 Josh Lewsey

11 Tom Voyce

10 Alex King (c)

9 Simon Amor

1 Tim Payne

2 Joe Ward

3 Phil Vickery

4 Simon Shaw

5 Tom Palmer

6 Joe Worsley

7 Tom Rees

8 Lawrence Dallaglio

16 Raphael Ibanez

17 Nick Adams

18 Dan Leo

19 James Haskell

20 Eoin Reddan

21 Rob Hoadley

22 Danny Cipriani

It’s going to be a full house this evening, and for our first proper evening kick-off of the season we’re going to need a seriously intimidating atmosphere to be created.

That means no relying on the kids in the South Stand to be the loudest singers; no leaving early just because it’s cold; plenty of fanbanas (remember them?) and Bernie’s Paws.

And we might just help our lads pull it off.

Happy Christmas everyone!