The game would have plenty of interest purely from the managerial point of view, Hargreaves having also been linked with the Cobblers job, but add in the fact that the two sides occupy the bottom two positions in League Two and it becomes even more important.
Hargreaves saw his new players deliver a 'statement of intent' last weekend when they won at AFC Wimbledon to move four points clear of Northampton and, like Town caretaker Andy King, has been busy in the transfer market with the loan signings of strikers Jayden Stockley from AFC Bournemouth and Shamir Goodwin from Brighton.
King himself is looking for a 'powerful' forward to add to his options ahead of the trip to Devon.
***Update*** A new signing has arrived at Sixfields but it is a defender, right-back James Hurst who has signed a one-month loan deal from Crawley Town.