Northampton Saints wing Sean Lamont is happy for London Wasps to go into their all-England showdown carrying the weight of expectancy in being favourites.

Northampton Saints are perhaps the surprise package in the Heineken Cup semi-finals this weekend - and their Scottish international wing Sean Lamont is happy for London Wasps to go into their all-England showdown at the Ricoh Arena in Coventry on Sunday carrying the weight of expectancy in being favourites.

That second semi-final will guarantee an English club challenging for the coveted silverware at Twickenham on Sunday, 20 May, against the winner of the Anglo-Welsh clash between Leicester Tigers and Llanelli Scarlets at the Walkers Stadium in Leicester in the first semi-final 24 hours earlier.

Saints pulled off one of the biggest knock-out upsets in the 12-year history of the tournament when they stunned Biarritz Olympique in San Sebastian in the quarter-finals while Wasps accounted for Leinster with a thundering second half display.

"We will be the underdogs, no doubt about that," said Lamont.

"Just like when we went to Biarritz for the quarter-finals, probably no-one outside of the club is expecting us to win on Sunday. And, as we are not doing well in the Premiership, they are expecting Wasps to turn us over.

"But this is a straight knock-out match and, while it would be marvellous for us to reach the final, the pressure is on Wasps.

"At the moment it is not about winning pretty for us - it is all about just winning full stop.

"Wasps have got a great pack full of experienced players and some dangerous backs. They are good across the board and it is going to be a tough challenge for us.

"It was largely a precautionary measure when I came off with kneecap bruising against Biarritz and, once we had taken the lead, it was pretty intense sitting there waiting for the clock to run down.

"We have been on the wrong side of a result by a single score in a number of matches this season and it would be great to be on the right side of the result this time.

"The Heineken Cup is a huge competition and, while Saints have won the title, I would love to experience a final."

Northampton Saints are perhaps the surprise package in the Heineken Cup semi-finals this weekend - and their Scottish international wing Sean Lamont is happy for London Wasps to go into their all-England showdown at the Ricoh Arena in Coventry on Sunday carrying the weight of expectancy in being favourites.

Les Northampton Saints sont certainement l'équipe surprise des demi-finales de ce week-end...