By Jason Harris
April 24 2003

Saracens take a narrow 38-30 lead to the Rec as they square up to Bath in the second leg of the Parker Pen Challenge Cup semi-final; a game that may prove significant for one team, but is viewed by many as merely as a diversion due to some more important business elsewhere. With what will probably be Saracens' most important game since the 1998 Tetley's Cup final just three days later - a do-or-die Zurich Premiership relegation clash with Bristol - the Men in Black can be forgiven for not quite having both eyes on the ball at the Rec on Saturday afternoon.

Top-flight league status will surely be the item atop Wayne Shelford's "to do" list despite the fact that the winners of this home and away affair will be just 80 minutes from a lucrative place in next season's Heinken Cup.

Opponents Bath are in a similar situation. Like Sarries, the team that dominated English rugby for nigh on a decade are also fighting to remain among English rugby's elite and they too will be looking forward to their next league game - with Birstol once again providing the opposition - on Sunday week.

Of course, the management at the clubs are peddling the usual "each game as it comes" rhetoric and trying to shut out their Zurich woes as their sides go in search of a nice awayday in sunny Reading.

Wayne Shelford stated categorically that his team will be going out to win, rather than defend their eight point lead. Shelford's counterpart at the Rec, Michael Foley, beleives that his charges will forget about the points difference and concetrate upon the job in hand on the day.

Saracens have five players returning from injury to boost their chances of reaching their first final in five years. Tim Horan (fullback), Kevin Sorrell (centre), Kris Chesney (no8), Mike Storey (prop), and Darragh O'Mahony (wing) all make the starting lineup.

This good news is tempered by the absence of Sarries' superstars Richard Hill and Thomas Castaignede. Hill is still struggling to overcome the ankle injury he sustained helping England win the Grand Slam and Castaignede is unfit due to a slight achilles problem. Both are hoping to be ready in time for the Bristol game.

Niki Little will have a lot of responsiblity at outside half and his kicking game could well be crucial as referee David McHugh is a strict disciplinarian. Kicks - be they for touch or for goal - may well decide this delicately-balanced match-up.

The Sarries pack will have plenty of bulk in the shape of Yandell, Benazzi and Chesney, but the most important thing for them will be retaining possession and wining set-piece ball. A shocking lineout display in the first leg prevented Sarries capitalising on a 22-point advantage and they will try to ensure that they starve the opposition pack of good quality possession.

Bath are overjoyed to be welcoming back England and Lions star Iain Balshaw, out since January, who is likely to start in the Bath side along with Elvis Seveali'i, the man who kept his team in the tie with two late scores at Vicarage Road.

Joining those two in a top quality back line are international centre pairing Kevin Maggs and Mike Tindall, plus they will be graced by the presence of the (undeservedly) forgotten man of English rugby, Matt Perry. The absence of playmaker-in-chief Mike Catt will be felt, of course, but not as much as it could have been had Bath's back division not had so many stars.

In the forwards, former Sarries favourite Danny Grewcock will lead the side and is supported by the likes of Steve Borthwick. Alessio Galasso and the veteran John Mallett.

Both sides have similar strenghts and weaknesses and with such a slender margin between them at the outset, the game will be very close. Bath are confident that their returning players will give them renewed impetus and give them enough points to overhaul Sarries.

Sarries, meanwhile, will be hoping that, in their desperation to eradicate the deficit, Bath will lose their discipline and be punished by the boot of Little.

The squads:

SARACENS:

15.Tim Horan; 14.Richard Haughton, 13.Tom Shanklin, 12.Kevin Sorrell, 11.Darragh O'Mahony; 10.Niki Little, 9.Kyran Bracken (captain)

1.Christian Califano, 2.Robbie Russell, 3.Mike Storey; 4.Abdel Benazzi, 5.Craig Yandell; 6.Ryan Peacey, 7.Tony Roques, 8.Kris Chesney

Replacements: Johnny Marsters, Matt Cairns, Stuart Hooper, Ben Skirving, Dan Kirton, Ben Johnston, Andy Goode.


BATH RUGBY:
Backs: Iain Balshaw, Olly Barkley, Ross Blake, Gareth Cooper, Kevin Maggs, Chris Malone, Matt Perry, Elvis Seveali’i, Mike Tindall, Tom Voyce.

Forwards: David Barnes, Andy Beattie, Steve Borthwick, Gareth Delve, Alessio Galasso, Danny Grewcock ©, Andy Long, John Mallett, Lee Mears, James Scaysbrook, Matt Stevens, Gavin Thomas, Nathan Thomas.(ONE TO BE OMITTED)