Richard Cockerill has said the fact his Leicester side are playing arch-rivals rivals Northampton in the English Premiership rugby semi-finals will be all the motivation they need.

The Tigers beat Northampton in last season’s Premiership final at Twickenham, with the Saints never recovering from England hooker Dylan Hartley’s red card for swearing at referee Wayne Barnes.

And this season, Leicester were the only side to win at Northampton’s Franklin’s Gardens ground, the venue for Friday’s semi-final.

Leicester have not lost to Northampton in 10 fixtures, a record which Cockerill, a veteran of the East Midlands derby as a player as well as a coach, is well aware.

“I would hate to lose to Northampton because I would hate to lose to Northampton – don’t worry about it being a semi-final,” said Cockerill of a rivalry that dates back 134 years.

Victory would move Leicester into a tenth consecutive Premiership final and, despite Northampton finishing second in the league, four points in front of the Tigers, it is Cockerill’s men who will be the favourites.

But New Zealand-born Hartley said now was the time for the Saints to set the record straight and end a four-year winless run against Leicester.

“I think we respond well to challenges – Ulster away last season; Leinster away this season.

“When it is laid down to us, we respond well. We can’t keep saying success is being a top-four side. The next thing to measure our success is a trophy.”

Saturday’s second semi-final is an all-London affair between table-toppers Saracens and Harlequins, Leicester’s two immediate predecessors as champions.

Saracens also have a European Cup final against French defending champions Toulon in Cardiff the following weekend in their sights.

But Sarries director of rugby Mark McCall said the pain of losing last season’s domestic semi-final to Northampton would keep his side’s concentration on the job at hand.

“We were disappointed with how we played in last season’s semi-final.

“That disappointment has been there for 12 months, and all our focus is going to be on our preparation for Quins.

“Whatever happens the week after is irrelevant. We are desperate to get through to the final.”