Sarries chasing point in Italy

Published: Saturday, 21. January, 2012 in category Saracens
Stringer: Back in for Saracens

A single point from the encounter will take the Londoners out of reach at the top of Pool Five with Biarritz and Ospreys having a five-point deficit.

The Premiership champions have made four changes going into the final pool match in Italy with James Short, Peter Stringer, Matt Stevens and Jackson Wray all returning to the starting line-up.

Second-row Hayden Smith returns to the bench after six weeks out with injury and will be joined by Chris Wyles, Rhys Gill and Ben Spencer.

"We're not quite there yet and that will focus our minds as we head out to Italy," said Sarries boss Mark McCall.

"There is still a lot that can happen in this group, but we've just got to take care of our own business and that means getting the job done against a good and organised Treviso team."

Meanwhile, Treviso will be looking to improve on their performance after a 44-17 loss at the Liberty Stadium against Ospreys last time out.

The Italian side have rung the changes ahead of the clash with Leonardo Ghiraldini, Tobias Botes and Benjamin Vermaak all returning while Ludovico Nitoglia moves to 15 with Brendan Williams switching to left wing.

Treviso: Nitoglia, Iannone, Benvenuti, Sgarbi, Williams, Burton, Botes, Barbieri, Zanni, Vermaak, van Zyl, Pavanello, Cittadini, Ghiraldini, Rizzo.

Replacements: Ceccato, Muccignat, Allori, Bernabo, Padro, Filippucci, Semenzato, Di Bernardo.

Saracens: Goode, Strettle, Farrell, Barritt, Short, Hodgson, Stringer, Wray, Saull, Brown, Botha, Borthwick, Nieto, Smit, Stevens.

Replacements: George, Gill, du Plessis, Smith, Melck, Spencer, Wyles, D Taylor.