The Saints go marching in to play the Sarries in a crucial clash of the league’s for teams in the race for the top four

Northampton are riding a wave of five successive league wins that has seen them maintain a spot in the play-off places, but with Gloucester, Sale, and Exeter all hot on their heels, a trip to the StoneX Stadium to play a Saracens side looking to secure top spot is sure to be the toughest of tests.

Leicester Tigers have long looked like the team to beat in the Gallagher Premiership, but the win for Sarries over the Tigers at the StoneX stadium paired with London rivals Harlequins doing them a favour at the Stoop has subsequently led to a scenario where the ‘Wolf Pack’ can hunt down the Tigers to claim top spot and, in theory, a more favourable semi-final for themselves.

Perhaps it should be taken as no surprise as Mark McCall’s side have claimed the Premiership crown in four of the previous five seasons they have played in without a points deduction.

However, how the Saracens would fare upon their return was a much-debated topic, and whether they should be there in the first place is even further debated. However, one can not deny the sheer star quality that oozes throughout the Saracens squad. Ultimately, it is such quality that sees them in the position they are as of now, and it would be foolish to bet against them claiming a sixth Premiership title.

Despite crashing out in both the European Rugby Challenge Cup and the Premiership Rugby Cup, Sarries have not lost in the Premiership since their narrow defeat to London Irish at the Brentford Community Stadium back in February.

Since then, the red and blacks have been involved in tough encounters against the Leicester Tigers, Newcastle Falcons, Bristol Bears, Exeter Chiefs and Worcester Warriors, but have found a way to come out on top in each and every single one of them.

With the top four secured and a home semi-final virtually theirs, it is all about claiming the honour of topping the regular season table as well as giving themselves the proverbial ‘favourable’ semi-final opponent.

Northampton’s fate meanwhile is far more up in the air, and with just four points separating themselves and 7^thplace Exeter Chiefs, the battle for the final play-off spot could go right down to the wire.

Thankfully, Northampton have found form at the perfect time, with the Saints winning their last five league games. Chris Boyd will take solace from the fact that they have tasted victory at the StoneX Stadium before this season, a feat very few can boast. It was however in the Premiership Rugby Cup, and they will be facing a much more ominous opponent in this encounter.

Team News:

Saracens:

The Sarries make just one change to the lineup that started their disappointing Challenge Cup exit against Toulon, with Sean Maitland coming back in on the wing to replace Max Mallins.

Lineup-

Mako Vunipola
Jamie George
Vincent Koch
Maro Itoje
Nick Isiekwe
Theo McFarland
Ben Earl
Billy Vunipola
Aled Davies
Owen Farrell ©
Rotimi Segun
Nick Tompkins
Elliot Daly
Sean Maitland
Alex Goode

Interchanges-

16. Ethan Lewis, 17. Ralph Adams-Hale, 18. Alec Clarey, 19. Callum Hunter-Hill, 20. Jackson Wray, 21. Ivan Van Zyl, 22. Alex Lozowski, 23. Alex Lewington

Director of Rugby: Mark McCall

Northampton Saints:

Meanwhile, the Saints have made four changes for this crucial encounter, including a debut for Flanker Aaron Hinkley. Courtnall Skosan, Dan Biggar and Ehran Painter all return to the starting XV.

Lineup-

Emmanuel Iyogun
Mike Haywood
Ehren Painter
Alex Coles
Api Ratuniyarawa
Courtney Lawes
Aaron Hinkley
Lewis Ludlam
Alex Mitchell
Dan Biggar
Courtnall Skosan
Fraser Dingwall
Matt Proctor
Tommy Freeman
George Furbank

Interchanges-

16. Sam Matavesi, 17. Alex Waller, 18. Paul Hill, 19. Alexander Moon, 20. Brandon Nansen, 21. Tom James, 22. Rory Hutchinson, 23. Ollie Sleightholme

Director of Rugby: Chris Boyd

When these two met at the Cinch Stadium in the Premiership, Saracens ran out comfortable winners to claim the bonus point victory. However, there is so much more on the line now for Northampton, and any slip up can be pounced upon. Even if they went on to beat Newcastle in their final game, they would be relying on how those around them have fared to claim their top four place.

Both sides regularly score 30+ points per game, but the visitors are guilty of having the leakier of the two defences, conceding more then Gloucester, Sale and Exeter below them. The Sarries will look to take advantage of the leaky Saints defence and use their artificial home turf to their advantage to play fast paced rugby.

Northampton will look to rely on their attacking options and hope that they can go toe to toe with Saracens In an open and free-flowing game.

Should the Saints be successful, they would go into Matchday 24 with their fate in their own hands. However, a defeat could see them slip out of the play-off places at the final hurdle.

A win for Sarries would guarantee a home semi-final and keep the pressure up on league leaders Leicester Tigers.

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