TEAM NEWS | Bristol Bears v Saracens Men (GPR – Rd 17)

Director of Rugby Mark McCall says Saracens Men will need to be at their best on Saturday as they take on Bristol Bears in a match that will have huge implications in the race for the Gallagher Premiership top four.

Sarries, currently second in possession of one of the crucial home semi-final spots, will travel to Ashton Gate to face the most in-form side in the league, who have six consecutive wins under their belt.

The managers made four changes to the starting line-up from the side that beat Bath in dramatic fashion two weeks ago, which saw them take a huge step towards the play-offs.

Mako Vunipola, Jamie George and Marco Riccioni start in the front row, with Maro Itoje and Hugh Tizard operating in the heavyweight second row.

Juan Martin Gonzalez, Ben Earl and Tom Willis got the nod in an unchanged back row that performed impressively at The Recreation Ground.

Ivan van Zyl comes in to start at scrum-half alongside captain Owen Farrell in the number 10 shirt.

Nick Tompkins and Lucio Cinti continue their well-balanced midfield partnership with an in-form background of Tom Parton, Rotimi Segun and Elliot Daly.

On the bench, Theo Dan will be looking for a similar impact after a huge influence against Bath and Theo McFarland will make his 50th appearance for the club when called up.

McCall knows the Men in Black face a huge challenge in the West Country this weekend.

“We know we’re playing against a team that has a lot of momentum.

They are very clear about how they want to play and they run the ball a lot, but they do it in a very well-organized, well-coached way.

They don’t mind making the odd mistake and will keep going, so we’ll be at our best defensively on Saturday.

I quietly gathered some momentum. We have won four of our last five Premiership games, we have 20 points from our last 25, which is very timely for us.

wIn those games we had some really good performances, very different performances really, the Quins game at Tottenham where we showed another side of us, and the Bath game a very serious win there.

So those two big wins for us and just performances that remind you what you’re capable of, which is really important.”

Saracens Men will play Bristol Bears:

1 Mako Vunipola

2 Jamie George

3 Marco Riccioni

4 Brown Itoje

5 Hugh Tizard

6 Juan Martin Gonzalez

7 Ben Earl

8 Tom Willis

9 Ivan van Zyl

10 Owen Farrell (c)

11 Tom Parton

12 Nick Tompkins

13 Lucio Cinti

14 Rotimi Segun

15 Elliot Daly

Substitutes:

16 Theo Dan

17 Eroni Mawi

18 Ollie Hoskins

19 Nick Isiekwe

20 Theo McFarland

21 Billy Vunipola

22 Aled Davies

23 Alex Goode