Saracens v Newcastle: Teams

Saracens director of rugby Alan Gaffney has told his side to treat Newcastle with "enormous respect" ahead of the Falcons' visit to Vicarage Road.

The Sarries are looking to make it six wins on the bounce in all competitions, however the Guinness Premiership title chasers remain wary of the threat posed by the Falcons.

Newcastle pushed leaders Gloucester all the way in the last round of fixtures - and with a side packed full of internationals, Gaffney knows his side will be in for a tough afternoon.

He said: "We have to treat them with enormous respect. We know that they have a real cutting edge in their side with the likes of Jonny Wilkinson, Matthew Tait, Jamie Noon and Toby Flood in the backline.

"When you add in the likes of Carl Hayman, Joe McDonnell and Mark Sorensen into their forward pack, they become a formidable team.

Exciting

"They play exciting and entertaining rugby and we will have to concentrate hard on our own performance levels if we are to get the result we want."

Gaffney has rotated his side for the clash, with recalls for Kevin Yates, David Seymour, Paul Gustard, Gordon Ross, Rodd Penney and Adam Powell.

Ben Skirving sits out with a shoulder injury, while Richard Hill, Nick Lloyd and Andy Farrell are rested and Glen Jackson and Kameli Ratuvou drop to the bench.

Newcastle director of rugby John Fletcher has described Saracens as the "best team" his side have faced.

Gloucester and Bath might be slugging it out at the top of the Guinness Premiership, while Leicester are the reigning champions, but it is the Sarries who Fletcher believes are the side to beat.

Fletcher said: "Saracens are a good side with a lot of fine players in key positions, and to be honest if you take 2007 as the calendar year I would say they are the best team we have come up against.

Ability

"Under Alan Gaffney they are playing a style of rugby that suits them very well, their form is good this season and they will be a match for any team.

"They have the ability to hit you in a number of different areas, so it will be a tough test for us but one we are looking forward to."

Fletcher has made just two changes to his line-up for the match, with James Grindal and Brent Wilson coming into the starting XV.

Grindal replaces Lee Dickson at scrum-half, while Wilson gets the nod on the blindside flank ahead of illness victim Geoff Parling.

Saracens: 15 Brent Russell, 14 Richard Haughton, 13 Kevin Sorrell, 12 Adam Powell, 11 Rodd Penney, 10 Gordon Ross, 9 Neil de Kock (c), 1 Kevin Yates, 2 Fabio Ongaro, 3 Cencus Johnston, 4 Hugh Vyvyan, 5 Chris Jack, 6 Kris Chesney, 7 David Seymour, 8 Paul Gustard.
Replacements: 16 Andy Kyriacou, 17 Cobus Visagie, 18 Tom Ryder, 19 Don Barrell, 20 Moses Rauluni, 21 Glen Jackson, 22 Kameli Ratuvou.

Newcastle: 15 Mathew Tait, 14 Tom May, 13 Jamie Noon (c), 12 Toby Flood, 11 John Rudd, 10 Jonny Wilkinson, 9 James Grindal, 1 Jon Golding, 2 Andy Long, 3 Carl Hayman, 4 Andy Perry, 5 Mark Sorenson, 6 Brent Wilson, 7 Ben Woods, 8 Russell Winter.
Replacements: 16 Matt Thompson, 17 David Wilson, 18 Sean Tomes, 19 Geoff Parling, 20 Lee Dickson, 21 Tim Visser, 22 Ollie Phillips.