Saracens v Leicester: Teams
Saracens director of rugby Alan Gaffney has insisted his side can topple reigning champions Leicester.
Last Updated: 12/10/07 1:28pm
Saracens director of rugby Alan Gaffney has insisted his side can topple reigning champions Leicester.
Leicester have lost just once this season and are set to be bolstered by the return of a number of their World Cup contingent.
However, Sarries chief Gaffney is confident of getting a positive result.
He told the club's official site: "Leicester have been one of the elite sides in the competition for many years and we will show them a lot of respect - especially as they are the reigning champions.
"They have a number of guys returning from World Cup duty and like us, have started the season with three wins out of four.
"But they are also a side we know we can beat if we play to our potential. The games against Leicester have been pretty close in recent seasons and fiercely contested - I'm sure that Sunday will be no different.
Pleased
"We've been pleased with our start to the season and we have played some exciting rugby - but we know there is still a way to go before reaching the levels we know we are capable of."
Gaffney has made just the one change from the side that beat Worcester, with Pau Gustard returning from injury to earn his place on the back row.
On the bench Tom Mercey and David Seymour return, however World Cup trio Moses Rauluni, Kameli Ratuvou and Fabio Ongaro have been given time to recover from international duty.
Leicester front-rowers Martin Castrogiovanni and Mefin Davies are set for their first starts of the season for the Tigers.
Italy's World Cup prop Castrogiovanni and hooker Davies have both been promoted from the bench, following the disappointing defeat to Gloucester at the weekend.
Boris Stankovich also returns to the front row, while Ben Youngs comes in alongside Paul Burke at half-back, Ayoola Erinle returns to the wing and Sam Vesty is back at centre.
Acting head coach Richard Cockerill said: "Some of the guys have played four full games on the trot while others have had to wait for their opportunities. The guys have stepped up really well during this opening period and now we are looking for them to carry that on and for others to take the opportunities as they come along.
"We have lost one in four so we have not done badly so far, although we were disappointed with the result against Gloucester and we have to learn from that defeat.
"Saracens have also had a good start, but we are looking forward to the challenge."
Saracens: 15 Richard Haughton, 14 Edd Thrower, 13 Kevin Sorrell, 12 Adam Powell, 11 Rodd Penney, 10 Glen Jackson, 9 Neil de Kock (c), 1 Kevin Yates, 2 Matt Cairns, 3 Cencus Johnston, 4 Kris Chesney, 5 Hugh Vyvyan, 6 Paul Gustard, 7 Richard Hill, 8 Ben Skirving.
Replacements: 16 Andy Kyriacou, 17 Tom Mercey, 18 Iain Fullarton, 19 David Seymour, 20 Alan Dickens, 21 Gordon Ross, 22 Noah Cato.
Leicester: 15 Geordan Murphy, 14 Johne Murphy, 13 Ollie Smith, 12 Sam Vesty, 11 Ayoola Erinle, 10 Paul Burke, 9 Ben Youngs, 1 Boris Stankovich, 2 Mefin Davies, 3 Martin Castrogiovanni, 4 Louis Deacon (c), 5 Marco Wentzel, 6 Brett Deacon, 7 Luke Abraham, 8 Jordan Crane.
Replacements: 16 Benjamin Kayser, 17 Julian White, 18 Richard Blaze, 19 Tom Croft, 20 Christophe Laussucq, 21 Matt Cornwell, 22 Tom Varndell