Jim Mallinder has paid tribute to Alex King after Northampton, who face Bath in Friday night's Amlin Challenge Cup final at Cardiff Arms Park, finished as top try scorers in the Premiership at the end of the regular season.

King, a former fly-half, was hired by Mallinder, the Saints' director of rugby, as attack coach last summer after a successful stint at Clermont Auvergne and the Saints' try tally has increased by 30%.

"Alex has been really good for us," said Mallinder. "He has brought some new ideas and I think it is vital that you freshen up your coaching team and change things. There are different ways of approaching the game and he has brought that. He is a good attacking coach who enjoys looking at all opportunities, whether that is attacking through your maul and getting little plays off that, or putting the ball wide. He has a sharp sense of how to attack space."

Mallinder expects an open encounter on the artificial surface at Cardiff Arms Park and says the Saints, who have made the LV Cup, A league and Under-18 finals this season, will be going all out for victory despite their involvement in the Premiership final after Friday's dramatic home win against Leicester. "Although Bath will be sick at missing out on the play-offs, they have had a good season and they will only get stronger," said Mallinder. "They have a big, strong pack and like to use their quick, elusive backs. Some cracking rugby has been played in the Premiership this season with loads of tries scored. Defences have been put under real pressure and that is good for the English game. It should be an open final in Cardiff. Both teams will go out and play and I expect it to be close."