Being a Saints supporter is quite some ride. One week you’re up, the next you’re down, and then, just when you think the rollercoaster is slowing down, it goes through a 360 degree loop the loop and starts all over again.

After an inspired second half to the 2005/06 season and a good start to the 2006/07 term, it seems that the ride is sliding into difficulty once more. One week on from the Saints’ feeble cup effort against Worcester, and Paul Grayson is angry. Speaking on Thursday, the head coach said, "Last weekend was the most hurtful weekend of my career as a coach so far because there was nothing but positives going into the game. There were positive chances for people to claim a spot in the team, to show their worth and to show how much it means to them to play at home and for the fans."

And herein lies the problem: consistency. Every time the team seems to be on a roll, the ride comes shuddering to a halt. With the magical talents of Carlos Spencer in their ranks, the Saints appear capable of beating any team on any given day and yet they never seem to come up with the goods in a game that they’re expected to win easily, which brings me on to this weekend’s match at Rodney Parade.

Even with injuries to captain, Bruce Reihana and potential England internationals, Ben Cohen, Steve Thompson and Jon Clarke, this Saturday’s game is one that the Saints would usually be expected to win easily, especially considering the Dragons’ mediocre table position in the Magners Celtic League having recently beaten Glasgow Warriors by a single point. However, whilst it could be argued that the Magners presents teams with a lower quality of opposition than the Guinness Premiership, making it easier to secure a win, the Dragons still have a better playing record that the Saints this season, having won 50% of their league matches. This weekend’s match is a potential banana skin of giant proportions and should Northampton lose on Saturday evening, their EDF campaign will be over for good. If the men in green, black and gold don’t secure a bonus point win then qualification to the next round will become only a faint possibility, especially if Worcester win their game at Sixways on Saturday.

But it’s not all doom and gloom. After such a desolate performance last week, the players will no doubt be looking to prove a point to the coaches and supporters alike, justifying their positions in the team and pushing to keep their places when big guns such as Reihana, Clarke and Cohen are fit again.

Paul Grayson has announced the following team to take to the pitch in Wales this weekend:

15 Robbie Kydd

14 SEAN LAMONT

13 Chris Wyles

12 DAVID QUINLAN (capt)

11 Paul Diggin

10 CARLOS SPENCER

9 MARK ROBINSON

1 TOM SMITH

2 Dylan Hartley

3 Pat Barnard

4 Damien Browne

5 Christian Short

6 Ben Lewitt

7 Darren Fox

8 Daniel Browne

16 Dan Richmond

17 Chris Budgen

18 Matt Lord

19 Mark Easter

20 Johnny Howard

21 Luke Myring

22 Rob Laird

So this Saturday will see a return for the on-form trio of Carlos Spencer, Pat Barnard and budding scrumhalf, Tom Smith as they have all recovered from the injuries suffered in the premiership that kept them out against Worcester in last weekend’s cup match.

This weekend, Ben Cohen finds himself sidelined this with a rib injury and young talent, Paul Diggin, takes his place in the starting line-up, gaining his first start of the season as he pushes for a regular place in the first fifteen. Dylan Hartley also finds himself in the starting fifteen for the first time this term, preferred at hooker to Dan Richmond and new arrival, Matius Cortese.

Elsewhere, Damien Browne, Darren Fox and Mark Robinson have regained their starting places in an attempt to add experience to the ranks and avoid a similar performance to that of last week.

Johnny Howard has been named on the bench after his suspension for stamping expired during the week, and he is joined by new recruit, Rob Laird who could potentially make his first appearance for the Saints if he takes to the field on Saturday.

Dragons Starting XV

Kevin Morgan (c), Gareth Wyatt, Nathan Brew, Ashley Smith, Aled Brew, Ceri Sweeney, Gareth Cooper, Adam Black, Ben Daly, Rhys Thomas, Ian Gough, Peter Sidoli, Colin Charvis, Jamie Ringer, Nic Fitisemanu

Replacements

Kieran Crawford, Lee Harrison, Luke Charteris, Michael Owen, Richard Fussell, Craig Warlow, Alex Walker.

So what will this weekend bring for the Saints as they travel to deepest, darkest Wales? Well to be honest, it won’t be hard to produce a better performance than that against Worcester. If they don’t then the alarm bells will be ringing in Northampton, if they haven’t already started. It’s a game that the Saints should win, especially since morale amongst the Dragons will be low after a crushing 41-17 defeat to Leicester last weekend, so I’m going to plump for an English victory.

Saints by 7.

I hope.