saracens

Saracens face Gloucester at Vicarage Road on Sunday, kick off 1.30pm, knowing a win would secure a home semi-final in the Aviva Premiership.

But they face a Gloucester side whose win over Northampton Saints earlier in the week leaves them just five points behind Saracens and still with their own hopes of securing a home play-off match – setting up what should be a thrilling Round 21 clash on Sunday.

In team news ahead of the game, Saracens welcome back captain Steve Borthwick after missing last week with a shoulder injury and scrum half Neil de Kock who returns after a hamstring problem. The rest of the starting line-up is unchanged from last weekend’s 33-12 win against Exeter Chiefs.

The return of de Kock sees Richard Wigglesworth move to the bench while Rodd Penney is set to make his 100th appearance for the club after coming on to the bench for Adam Powell who misses out this week with a knee injury.

Saracens line-up vs Gloucester

15 Alex Goode
14 David Strettle
13 Chris Wyles
12 Brad Barritt
11 James Short
10 Owen Farrell
9 Neil de Kock
1 Matt Stevens
2 Schalk Brits
3 Carlos Nieto
4 Steve Borthwick ©
5 Mouritz Botha
6 Kelly Brown
7 Jacques Burger
8 Ernst Joubert

16 Jamie George
17 Rhys Gill
18 Petrus du Plessis
19 Hugh Vyvyan
20 Andy Saull
21 Richard Wigglesworth
22 Rodd Penney
23 Noah Cato