Northampton Saints can take a big step towards reaching the Aviva Premiership playoffs on Sunday when they travel to bottom-placed London Welsh.

Gloucester Rugby's defeat at Sale Sharks on Friday means that a third consecutive win for Jim Mallinder's side will see the Saints move four points clear of their fifth-placed rivals.

Meanwhile, five losses from their last six games have seen Welsh slip 12 points adrift of safety at the bottom of the table.

Even if the hosts pull off a surprise victory this weekend, they look all but doomed for the drop this season.

Welsh have made four changes for the match as Tom Arscott, Seb Jewell, Sonny Parker and Nick Scott all come in.

Northampton have brought in three new faces in the form of Ken Pisi, Luther Burrell and Brian Mujati.

Recent form:

Welsh: LWLLLL

Northampton: WWLLWW

Lineups:

Welsh: Arscott, Stegmann, Parker, Jewell, Scott, Ross, Davies, Browne, Hills, Cabello Farias, Kulemin, Mills, Ion, Bateman, Bristow
Replacements: George, Joly, Tideswell, Corker, Balding, Lewis, Lewis, Voyce

Northampton: Foden, K Pisi, G Pisi, Burrell, Elliott, Myler, Dickson, Manoa, Dowson, Wood, Day, Lawes, Mujati, Hartley, Tonga'uiha
Replacements: Haywood, Waller, Doran Jones, Van Velze, Clark, Roberts, Lamb, May

Sports Mole says: Northampton to run out comfortable winners