By Jason Harris
May 3 2003

With London Irish winning at Leicester on Saturday afternoon, Saracens now know that if they are to avoid a last day all-or-nothing clash with playoff-chasing Sale, they must win at Kingston Park against Newcastle on Sunday. It was hoped by fans of the Men in Black that the form book would dictate the Welford Road result, leaving Sarries the task of securing just one point to stay up, but the Irish sprung a surprise and now sit just one point behind Saracens in the Zurich Prmiership table.

But with Saracens drawing a blank on every visit to the north east since Newcastle joined the top flight in 1997, it will be a daunting task to dispose of a Newcastle side not out of the relegation woods themselves.

Buck Shelford has named his strongest possible squad for this most crucial game and is boosted by the long-awaited return of prop David Flatman. Flatman's inclusion is timely as fellow international Christian Califano will miss the game due to a rib injury.

Califano's compatriot Thomas Castaignede makes it as far as the bench after his achilles flared up again and kept him out of the defeat at Bath and the win over Bristol. Tim Horan continues at fullback and Andy Goode gets another chance to show Shelford and everyone else what he can do at outside half. Ben Skirving comes in at no8 after a good ball-carrying performance against Bristol and he will be joined by Richard Hill and Kris Chesney.

Newcastle are a much improved team over the one that narrowly beat Sarries 31-29 in the Parker Pen Challenge Cup last January, only to lose out on aggregate. Once again, there will be a lot of responsiblity on Jonny Wilkinson to steer his men to victory.

Sarries' front five has been second best in nearly every game so far this season and this game shouldn't be very different. Newcastle will name their team one hour before kick-off, but their big men - including Stuart Grimes who until this week had a suspension hanging over him - should prove more than a match for Sarries unit.

Fans and pundits alike have been comparing players in the same positions but these comparisons will be worthless as these two sides continue their scrap for Zurich Premiership survival.

Everything points towards a home win and if Newcastle get it, they should be safe. Should Sarries pull off one of the shocks of the season and turn over the Falcons, then they will be able to go into the final weekend safe in the knowledge that they won't be playing for their Premiership lives.

My advice is, for those of you intending to make the trip to Vicarage Road next weekend, to stock up on the Valium. You're gonna need it.

SARACENS:

Horan; Haughton, Sorrell, Johnston, O'Mahony; Goode, Bracken (c); Flatman, R.Russell, Storey; Benazzi, Hooper; Chesney, Hill, Skirving.
Replacements: Ross, Cairns, Yandell, Roques, Williams, Shanklin, Castaignede.

NEWCASTLE:
To be announced