TODD Blackadder says tonight’s clash at home to Northampton Saints will kick-off a crunch month in determining their Aviva Premiership fate this season.

Bath currently occupy the final play-off spot in their chase for a top-four finish, having picked up eight wins from the opening 13 rounds of the competition.

The Premiership schedule now enters a crucial phase, with the next four fixtures coinciding with the Six Nations and most teams likely to see their ranks depleted.

The visit of sixth-placed Northampton is followed by another home game against Harlequins before Bath travel to bottom side Bristol. They round off this run with a trip to leaders Wasps.

The past fortnight has seen Bath focus their attentions on the Anglo-Welsh Cup and although they did not pick up a win in that period, director of rugby Blackadder is bullish about his side’s prospects.

“In the last few weeks, we haven’t really focussed on the outcome at all,” said Blackadder.

“Of course you want to be competitive in every competition but with the way our squad has been with injuries this season, that’s not really been possible.

“The last few weeks have all been about preparation for Friday night and I feel like we are in a good position for that game.

“We’ve taken the opportunity to give guys a little bit of rest and hopefully we will see the benefits of that.

“The next month is really important for everybody and this is the first game, so it’s massive. If you get a result, you get a bit of momentum, and if you lose, it pushes you back towards the pack a little bit.”

Bath were 18-14 winners over Saints at Franklin’s Gardens on the opening day of the season back in September, a match that gave New Zealander Blackadder the perfect start to his tenure at the club.

Last season was the first in the past seven that Northampton have failed to qualify for the play-offs and although it appears they may suffer a similar fate this term, Blackadder believes they remain a tough prospect.

“I think we caught them on the hop a little bit in that last game and we turned up with a fantastic mindset and were able to get the result,” said Blackadder.

“They are still a fantastic team. They have got a really strong set of forwards and quite a dominant scrum, so that’s going to be the first challenge for us.

“You can’t be complacent and every week. You have to turn up expecting a battle.”