By Jason Harris (filed: 15/11/03)
November 15 2003

Saracens head to the tip of the Cornish peninsula on Sunday for their Powergen Cup sixth round tie at Penzance and Newlyn. The Men in Black will face a former colleague in Rob Thirlby who has returned to his home county after stints at Sarries, Bath and Rotherham. With the Pirates lying almost as low in the first division as Sarries are in the Zurich Premiership, the match looks a certainty on paper. But Kevin Moseley's men are keen to make life tough for Saracens who are still struggling in the league, just one place off the bottom.

Sarries have rested Simon Raiwalui, Emiliano Bergamaschi and Andy Goode for this game and in their places come Ben Skirving, Andy Kershaw and Nicky Little respectively.

With Leicester, Northampton, Gloucester and Harlequins all crashing out on Friday and Saturday and first division leaders Pertemps Bees going through to the quarter finals, a good chance of progressing to the semis awaits the Men in Black if they avoid this particular banana skin on Sunday and the likes of Bath and London Wasps (providing they pick up their expected win at Bristol) in the draw for the last eight.

The Powergen Cup could be Sarries' best route into next season's showpiece Heinken tournament due to their lowly league position and a route to the European Challenge Cup being blocked by tough sides like Montferrand and Bath.

Whatever happens, a rousing reception awaits Sarries and their small band of supporters who will make the 630-mile round trip and it could be close early on. But I think Sarries superior power and experience at the very high level will see them win through.