By Jason Harris
April 11 2003

Saracens take on Bath in the first leg of the Parker Pen Challenge Cup Semi Final at Vicarage Road on Sunday. What should be a very important tie for both teams is being considered as merely a diversion by supporters pre-occupied with their respective teams' Zurich Premiership survival. Sarries will be without key players Kris Chesney, Tim Horan and Richard Hill for this match which although could be the first stepping stone to Saracens' first final sinc 1998, has lost its importance relative to the remaining three games Saracens have to save their Zurich Premiership status.

Coach Wayne Shelford said in his statement following the announcement of the Sarries squad that Bath's priorities lie with Zurich Premiership survival but he did not mention that his own side faces the same predicament. I am certain that Bristol, Newcastle and Sale will be taking up more of the New Zealander's thoughts than he makes out.

With no wins since the first leg of the quarter final in this competition against Newcastle in mid-January, Saracens are repeating their dismal form of last season when they won just one game of their last 11. Disappointing losses to London Irish at home and away at Bath six weeks ago have left the side in the bottom five of the table which is covered by a mere two points.

It will be difficult for either side to banish thoughts of National League One rugby next season and get themselves psyched for what many observers see as the match that will provide the competition's runners-up.

Unlike the home side, Bath have won some games of late. The 30-9 defeat of Sarries at the Rec and Thursday's late-late show against London Irish which hauled the Westcountrymen off the bottom of the table once more. But they are just as worried as their hosts about the scrap for survival and perhaps won't be too worried if this tie is lost.

Bath also have their fair share of injuries. The squad announced on Friday by coach Michael Foley is missing several big names. Mike Catt who was withdrawn from the Irish match is top of a list of casualties including Dan Lyle and Iain Balshaw.

However, even without that international trio, they are still able to call upon the likes of Ireland's Kevin Maggs, England's Mike Tindall and Wales pair Gavin Thomas and Gareth Cooper. Also inclucded in the squad is cult hero Elvis Seveali’i who has taken the Rec by storm with some spectaular running out wide and scoring the all-important injury-time try to dispose of the Irish.

The Sarries side shows three changes from the one that went down to London Irish. Robbie Russell, blamed by some fans for the defeat after his moment of madness gifted Barry Everitt 10 metres for his match-winning kick, starts in place of Matt Cairns at hooker. Ben Skirving comes in for Ben Russell and Kevin Sorrell makes a welcome return in the centre after recovering from his fractured skull suffered at Northampton in February. Ben Johnston is the player that misses out on this occasion.

At the end of the Newcastle tie in the last round, there was a sense of anti-climax when Newcastle stole the second leg with the last kick of the match, while Sarries went through on aggregate. That feeling seems to prevail in both camps this weekend even before a ball is kicked in anger.

Sarries will, of course, go all-out to ensure that the second leg in Bath on 26 April will be a formality by winning well but, in all honesty, the Men in Black have more important games to worry about than this. Saracens to win, I think, but not many will care.