London Irish’s hopes of breaking their Aviva Premiership points duck on Sunday could flounder against a Northampton team eager to rediscover its try-scoring prowess.

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Although Saints currently hold a top-five Premiership place and are challenging for a European Champions Cup quarter-finals spot, the tries have dried up. They have claimed just one touchdown across their last four games in all competitions – a Luther Burrell try against Bath three weeks ago – but they will arrive at the Madejski Stadium to face a side reeling from six successive Premiership defeats and currently propping up the table.

“We are working on scoring tries, and we need to improve in that area,” Northampton rugby director Jim Mallinder said. “We need the foundations in place, and we are working on that, especially with the youngsters in the front-row. We need to improve, and I think we will do that as we go through the season.”

While Irish posted successive recent home wins in the European Challenge Cup, they have lost six games on the bounce against Northampton in all competitions, which suggests another tough afternoon could lie ahead.

Sale Sharks have drawn something of a festive season short straw, facing a 470-mile round-trip to Exeter, where they will face a Chiefs team beaten just once at home since September last year. It is also Exeter’s first Sandy Park fixture since their memorable Champions Cup victory over Clermont Auvergne a fortnight ago.

In-form Leicester Tigers, who are currently unbeaten from four starts in their Champions Cup group, face a Newcastle side that showed some impressive signs against Challenge Cup rivals Connacht last weekend.

Dean Richards’ side are 11th in the table and only have two points so far this season, but the Newcastle rugby director believes they have been steadily improving ahead of their trip to Welford Road.

“I think we are getting better every week, and the fact we are now creating and finishing opportunities speaks volumes for the style of play,” Richards said. “We just have to do it more consistently.”

Sunday’s Premiership action sees unbeaten league leaders Saracens tackle Wasps in a mouthwatering Ricoh Arena clash. Bath, meanwhile, square off against Worcester at the Recreation Ground and Harlequins travel to Twickenham for their annual Big Game, with Gloucester as the visitors.