The last two English champions meet at Franklin's Gardens on Saturday as Northampton Saints host Bath in PREM Rugby.
Saints defeated Newcastle 59-26 on the opening night of the season, but were well beaten 41-26 at Bristol last Saturday.
Bath have a perfect 10 points, outlasting Harlequins 33-17 and Exeter 40-34.
However, they have failed to win their last six trips to Franklin's Gardens in all competitions, but the margins of those defeats could offer some punting pointers, especially as Bath beat their rivals at home in Europe last season.
Both teams have rotated their squads as they look ahead to next weekend's opening round of Champions Cup fixtures, adding to optimism that this could be an open, attacking affair.
Northampton Saints v Bath Tips Summary
Best Bet - Winning margin four-way - Northampton 1-12 points @ 15/8
Alternative Bet - Tommy Freeman to score two or more tries @ 10/3
Bet Builder - James Pater to score a try, Cameron Redpath to score a try & Bath to win either half @ 12/1
Northampton Saints v Bath Prediction
Best Bet: Winning margin four-way - Northampton 1-12 points @ 15/8
Northampton head into this game as 2/5 favourites and are unbeaten at home in PREM Rugby since March 2025.
By contrast, Bath's win at Harlequins ended a five-match run of away defeats.
Despite taking a maximum of 10 points from two games this season, they have been far from perfect, but will fancy themselves getting something here, whether a result or bonus points.
For all Saints' brilliant attacking play, the champions tend to leave the back door open and have conceded 67 points, meaning both Newcastle and Bristol have earned four-try extras against them.
These two traded blows last season, with Northampton winning both league matches, but Bath triumphing 43-41 in the Champions Cup quarter-finals.
The last five Franklin's Gardens meetings in all competitions have been home wins by one, six, four, one and three points, and another narrow Saints victory could be the answer.
Alternative Bet: Tommy Freeman to score two or more tries @ 10/3
Northampton's Tommy Freeman scored a hat-trick from the right wing against Newcastle and notched three tries when these teams met at the Gardens in the spring.
He also scored three tries when the pair met at the Rec last December, and he clearly enjoys facing the Blue, Black and White.
Freeman was shifted to full-back at Bristol and failed to cross, but returns to the 14 jersey on Saturday and should shine.
Northampton Saints v Bath Bet Builder Tip
James Pater to score a try
Cameron Redpath to score a try
Bath to win either half
Pays 12/1
James Pater returns at full-back for Northampton after being benched at Bristol, despite scoring a hat-trick against Newcastle.
The 'Slim Reaper's' minutes are clearly being managed as Saints look to bed him in as George Furbank's long-term replacement in the number 15 shirt but like his predecessor, Pater glides through defences and has a nose for the line.
Cameron Redpath is another diminutive star who continues in the centres for Bath, with Ollie Lawrence on the bench.
Redpath scored the opening try against Exeter, and Northampton's wide attacking play may give the Scot a chance to touch down for a trademark intercept try.
Northampton tend to blow teams away in patches but Bath's strong bench helped them recover from conceding three tries early in the second half against Exeter to grab two of their own.
Lawrence, Charlie Ewels, Ted Hill and British & Irish Lions prop Will Stuart are among those waiting in reserve to help the visitors potentially produce another late surge.
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Key Match Stats
Northampton have won the last six Franklin's Gardens meetings in all competitions
The last four have been separated by one, six, one and three points
Northampton scored exactly 41 points in their three matches against Bath last season
Saints winger Tommy Freeman scored hat-tricks in both of last season's league meetings
Freeman also crossed for a hat-trick in his team's PREM opener against Newcastle, as did full-back James Pater
Bath centre Cameron Redpath scored the opening try in their win over Exeter
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This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.
