Mallinder's once tight and determined defence has weakened in the last couple of weeks, with Saints leaking seven tries in their last two Premiership games.
In the first five games they let in 11, a little over two tries per game, but that sound f
oundation has been shot apart by west country rivals Bath and Gloucester.
But Mallinder doesn't believe the defence needs a system overhaul, only that the players need to stick to the plan and be confident in it.
Mallinder said: "It is just little things, there isn't fundamentally anything wrong with our defence. It is just little system errors.
"It is people coming out of the system, doing something that we don't talk about and practice.
"We need to stay confident as a team. Are we going forward as a team and putting them under pressure with very good line speed? Or are we going to hold our line a little bit and not be quite as aggressive?
"But whatever you do, you have to do it as a team and do it together, because if you don't and one person goes out of that system then you struggle."
Saints have had to cope with three outside centres in Joe Ansbro, Jon Clarke and Chris Mayor being injured for the last two games, with Bruce Reihana filling in at a pivotal role for the defence.
And though Mallinder is not using that as an excuse, he admits it has added to the defence's problems.
"It doesn't help when you have to make some late changes," said Mallinder. "Outside centre is a very difficult position to defend – probably the hardest.
"It was unfortunate that we lost our three outside centres, who throughout the year have played there and practised there.
"But what we need to do is to have a squad capable of fitting in.
When you have an injury, you have to adapt and do what you can."
Mallinder wants to see the 'system errors' ironed out in the European Challenge Cup double header against Bristol, starting with the clash at Franklin's Gardens on Saturday, before the Guinness Premiership resumes with Saints at home to Harlequins on December 20.
"We have got to work at not giving Bristol any opportunities, not just tries, but any line breaks," said Mallinder.
"That for us is a successful day at the office in terms of defence."
Chris Gleadell – page 38
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