Saracens vs Bath Prediction: Sarries to do their bit with plenty to spare

Saracens are among the five teams still playing for the Premiership's three remaining play-off places and can get the win they need to give them a chance when they take on a much-changed leaders Bath at the StoneX on Saturday (15:05, TNT Sports Extra).

Below are my Saracens vs Bath predictions, as well as all the essential team news and match odds.

The visitors have already sealed a home semi-final and might face Sarries, who sit sixth in the table and will hope results go their way, with Leicester, Sale, Bristol and Gloucester also looking to finish in the top four.

Five points separate the quintet, and Saracens need a bonus-point victory. They should get it, and with plenty to spare.

While Mark McCall has named his strongest available team, opposite number Johann van Graan has given his big names the afternoon off.

Bath added the European Challenge Cup to their Premiership Rugby Cup title by beating Lyon 37-12 last Friday, and with their home semi-final scheduled for next Friday, their head coach has wisely opted to rest his players to avoid the fatigue issues that a six-day turnaround can cause.

Depending on results, Van Graan's boys may face Saracens again next week.

With Alex Goode playing his final home game for the club after a 17-year career, the six-time champions can go big against the inexperienced visitors.

Team News

Saracens have made three changes from the team that lost 28-24 at Northampton last time out. Prop Rhys Carre and flankers Theo McFarland and Andy Onyeama-Christie come into the side.

Onyeama-Christie and scrum-half Ivan van Zyl make their 100th appearances for the club, while Goode retains his role at full-back for his 402nd, and possibly final, outing for the club.

Rugby Union Odds

Bath have made wholesale alterations, with Van Graan handing starts to scrum-half Louis Schreuder and wing Ruaridh McConnochie, both of whom will leave the club in the summer.

Backs Neil le Roux and Tyler Offiah are included among the replacements and could make their first Premiership appearances.

Saracens vs Bath Odds

Saracens are the significant 1/150 favourites, with Bath's youngsters 18/1 to cause a shock at the StoneX and the draw priced at 28/1.

Sarries rested several stars for their 68-10 defeat at the Rec and are 20/21 to turn the tables with a heavy victory, with the three-way handicap at -29.

Saracens -32 @ 6/5

The situation in the standings and Bath's decision to make changes means everything points towards a significant victory for Saracens on an emotional afternoon at the StoneX, as the ground waves goodbye to club legend Goode.

Selected at full-back, he will still have designs on winning a seventh Premiership title with the only club he has ever represented.

He scored a try in the defeat at Northampton, Saracens' second in their last three outings, but those results came on either side of thumping Newcastle 75-28, and the hosts could open up again now.

Although he'd never say it, Van Graan is clearly and understandably prioritising next Friday's home semi-final as he aims to ensure his team go one better than last June's Twickenham Grand Final defeat to Northampton.

Winning Bath's first English title since 1995/96 is all that matters, and Saracens can take advantage.

Whether it proves enough remains unclear, but adding five points to take their season's tally to 56 - currently the same as second-placed Leicester - won't harm them.

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