RUGBY:NORTHAMPTON FULLBACK Ben Foden believes last season's failure will spur the Saints on in tomorrow's Heineken Cup semi-final against Perpignan.

Last year the England international and his team-mates were tipped for glory in both the European Cup and Premiership, although their dreams were left in tatters after two defeats in quick succession.

First they lost to Munster in the quarter-finals of the Heineken Cup, before they were dumped out of the Premiership play-offs by Saracens.

Foden believes Northampton are a different proposition now and thinks the pain of last season’s defeats can act as a catalyst against Perpignan this weekend.

“All the hard work you put in for pre-season and during the start of the season amounts to nothing if you don’t keep the hard work up for the full season,” he said. “We know that it is knockout rugby that is the most important rugby to be winning.

“Last year, tasting the disappointment of losing in the quarter-finals and also the semi-finals at home against Saracens, was a pill we found hard to swallow.

“But hopefully we will remember it and know how important it is because we don’t want to feel that again, especially as we have a home draw against a very professional and good outfit in Perpignan.” Foden added: “Last year everybody was talking about us, saying that we had a good chance of going on and winning things. And then it all stopped very suddenly for us so we know how quickly it is taken away.

“The Heineken Cup is something I’ve always wanted to be involved in. I’ve always wanted to win it. This is the furthest stage I have ever been to, so this is probably going to be one of the biggest games I’ve ever played in at club rugby level.

More than 20,000 tickets have already been sold for the clash against Perpignan, who currently languish ninth in the Top 14 and head into the game on the back of a defeat to Toulon.

Northampton have already faced the French side recently, winning the home tie and losing at Stade Aime Giral in last season’s pool stage.

And Foden thinks Saints have it within them to secure victory.

“We have done our homework on them,” he added. “We know they have some big boys in their forwards. They thrive on momentum, they want to get Henry Tuilagi involved as much as they can, their big ball-carriers. We know they have threats across the park in the backline.

“We are lucky we played them in the Heineken Cup last year so we know what they are capable of. We tasted defeat at their place but also victory at ours so we know what it takes to beat them. It’s going to be a very physical game.”

NORTHAMPTON: B Foden; C Ashton, J Clarke, J Downey, P Diggin; S Myler, L Dickson; S Tonga’uiha, D Hartley [capt], B Mujati, C Lawes, C Day, C Clark, P Dowson, R Wilson. Replacements: B Sharman, A Waller, T Mercey, M Sorenson, M Easter, S Commins, S Geraghty, J Ansbro.

PERPIGNAN: J Porical; A Plante, D Marty, G Hume, J Candelon; N Laharrague, D Mele; P Freshwater, G Guirado, N Mas [capt], R Alvarez Kairelis, R Tchale Watchou, G Le Corvec, B Guiry, D Chouly. Replacements: C Geli, K Pulu, J Schuster, H Tuilagi, K Boulogne, M Edmonds, J Michel, G Vilaceca.

Referee: G Clancy (Ire).