Digest: Brendan Venter believes his London Irish team might have to produce a season's-best performance if they intend to lift the English Cup at Twickenham on Saturday.

Irish have stormed into their first final for 22 years and, given their lofty Premiership status, are widely tipped to go one better than in 1980 when Leicester toppled them 21-9.

London Irish also have a European Shield semi-final against Pontypridd in 11 days' time, so this could be possibly their best campaign to date.

Irish are well on course to secure automatic European Cup qualification for next term, although player-coach Venter is under no illusions about the challenge presented by resurgent Northampton this weekend.

Although the Saints made a slow start to the current campaign, they have been transformed by new coach, former All Blacks supremo Wayne Smith.

And Venter thinks that the Smith factor could have a significant influence when the teams lock horns in front of an anticipated 75,000 crowd.

Venter has named a side showing three changes, including one positional switch, from the line-up that conquered semi-final opponents Harlequins 32-27.

South African hooker Naka Dropske is preferred to Richard Kirke, while Michael Worsley comes in as prop instead of Simon Halford. Rob Hardwick moves from loosehead to tighthead.