“When we talk about the energy and intent, that really does feed the boys.”
It will the first home Premiership semi-final for the Saints since 2015 and will be hoping to get one step closer to lifting the trophy a decade after winning their only Premiership title – when they beat Saracens in a thriller at Twickenham.
Dowson says he wants his side to focus on how well they’ve played this season, underlining the importance of “making sure we know what we’ve done to get here” as well as not “worrying too much” about Saracens’ star-studded line-up which includes departing Owen Farrell potentially playing his final match for the club.
The Saints were beaten by Leinster at this stage in their European Rugby Champions Cup campaign earlier this year, but Dowson believes his younger players can take notes from the experienced members of the group to get them over the line this time.
“Those younger players will learning every single time we go into a knock-out game,” he said.
“There’s players who have tons of experience and they are going to help via their communication and their body language with some of those other guys who might be a bit nervous and vice versa.
“The guys that are doing this for the first time will bring a ton of energy for the guys who have been around the block so it’s a real nice balance within the group.”
The winner will play Bath or Sale, who meet in the other semi-final on Saturday, in the Premiership final at Twickenham on 8 June.