Wasps v Saracens: Teams

London Wasps will field a new look line-up for their season opener against Saracens at Twickenham.

Four players are set to make their debuts, while Ian McGeechan's line-up will have an average age of just 24.

Prop Pat Barnard and hooker James Buckland will add beef to the pack, while the talented Riki Flutey will direct operations from fly-half having made the switch from London Irish in the summer.

Fellow newcomer Michael Holford, who followed Buckland in joining from Leicester, is named on the bench.

The young looking side with see teenagers Dominic Waldouck and Danny Cipriani, plus 20-year-old David Doherty, named in the backline, while the back row of captain John Hart, James Haskell and George Skivington are all under 25.

And McGeechan admitted to the club's official site: "This is a new group of players, who have come together well over pre season, but the real thing starts Saturday and we are all looking forward to see how this team performs.

Excited

"I'm excited about seeing the new faces and younger players in action, and seeing how they take to the responsibility of performing on the senior stage for London Wasps."

While there is a youthful feel to the side, Mark van Gisbergen adds some experience as he makes his 100th Premiership appearance since his debut in September 2002 - although the England international starts on the bench.

Saracens director of rugby Alan Gaffney is refusing to underestimate London Wasps - despite the Heineken Cup champions missing a host of their top players.

The World Cup means both sides will be without their star names - however Wasps have perhaps been hit harder than most, with the Likes of Lawrence Dallaglio, Tom Rees, Josh Lewsey and Rafael Ibanez on international duty.

However, Gaffney has dismissed claims that now is a good time to face Wasps - insisting that the Adams Park side will still be packed for of quality.

He told the club's official website: "We're going in against what will be a very strong Wasps side despite the fact they will be missing some of their more recognisable faces.

Impressive

"People have told me that this is a good time to catch them but I would disagree with that as they have strength in depth across the squad. They were impressive against Glasgow in their recent warm-up match and we know it's going to be a very hard game.

"But we're going out with what we think is a pretty handy side and we will have to make sure that we our execution levels are high and that we concentrate on our own performance.

"We had three pretty tight games against Wasps last season and I think we could well see the same on Saturday."

Gaffney has handed debuts to fly-half Gordon Ross and winger Francisco Leonelli, while Edd Thrower, who moved to Saracens from Wasps in the summer, is named on the bench.

Saracens: 15 Dan Scarbrough, 14 Rodd Penney, 13 Kevin Sorell, 12 Adam Powell, 11 Francisco Leonelli, 10 Gordon Ross, 9 Neil de Kock, 1 Nick Lloyd, 2 Matt Cairns, 3 Tom Mercey, 4 Tom Ryder, 5 Hugh Vyvyan, 6 Kris Chesney, 7 Richard Hill, 8 Ben Skirving.

Replacements: 16 Andy Kyriacou, 17 Kevin Yates, 18 Iain Fullarton, 19 David Seymour, 20 Alan Dickens, 21 Edd Thrower, 22 Richard Haughton.

London Wasps: 15 Danny Cipriani, 14 David Doherty, 13 Fraser Waters, 12 Dominic Waldouck, 11 Tom Voyce, 10 Riki Flutey, 9 Mark McMillan, 1 Tom French, 2 James Buckland, 3 Pat Barnard, 4 Richard Birkett, 5 Tom Palmer, 6 John Hart (c), 7 George Skivington, 8 James Haskell.

Replacements: 16 Joe Ward, 17 Tim Payne, 18 Michael Holford, 19 Hugo Ellis, 20 Simon Amor, 21 Mark Van Gisbergen, 22 Chris Bishay