This match holds a huge amount of significance for both sides. If Saracens win they will definitely finish top of their pool and will, therefore, qualify for the quarter-finals.
If Ulster win, then there is still a chance that they can top the pool, and they will also be in a better position to pick up one of the runners-up spots.
Saracens will be smarting from their first defeat of the season last weekend, and will be desperate to get back to winning ways and continue their undefeated European campaign. Ulster will be going into the match full of confidence and belief after their amazing comeback in their rescheduled match against Oyonnax last weekend.
The London-based club have once again elected to field a very strong line-up for their home fixture against the Irish province. In the front row, the trio of Mako Vunipola, Jamie George and Petrus Du Plessis, will once again team up to for a formidable unit.
In the engine room, George Kruis has passed the concussion tests and so he starts alongside the young Maro Itoje. Michael Rhodes comes back into the side and will hope not to be noticed for the wrong reasons in this return fixture. He is joined by Will Fraser on the side of the scrum and Billy Vunipola at number eight.
In the backs, Richard Wigglesworth and Owen Farrell will control things from nine and 10 retrospectively, in a game where field position is set to be key. In the centres, Brad Barritt is back to captain the side in the continued absence of Alistair Hargreaves in the second row and he is partnered by Argentine international Marcelo Bosh.
The back three consists of USA International Chris Wyles and Chris Ashton, one of seven England call-ups in the side to play on Saturday. Alex Goode, the other Saracen to receive a call-up, misses the game due to a slight knock, but Ben Ransom takes his place.
The bench is made up of Schalk Brits, Richard Barrington, Juan Figallo, Jim Hamilton, Jackson Wray, Neil De Kock, Charlie Hodgson and Duncan Taylor.
Ulster have made seven changes from the side that staged that magnificent comeback last week in the hope that the new additions will serve them well in what will be a much bigger challenge. In the front row captain Rory Best starts in between Kyle McCall, who put in a man of the match performance last week, and Wiehahn Herbst.
The two Locks are Springbok Franco van der Merwe and Alan O’Connor. In the back row, Chris Henry misses out due to injury, as does Nick Williams, so Robbie Diack, Sean Reidy and Roger Wilson will all hope to do a great job in their absence.
At half-back, Ulster have selected the familiar partnership of Ruan Pienaar and Paddy Jackson. Stuart McCloskey and Luke Marshall will hope to unlock the Saracens defense from the midfield like the Harlequins pair managed last week, whilst also keeping a lid on the Londoners’ dangerous runners.
In the back three, we see the return of Jared Payne at full-back. The man who saw red against this side two seasons ago. He is joined by Craig Gilroy and Andrew Trimble on the wings.
The bench is made up of Rob Herring, Callum Black, Ricky Lutton, Lewis Stevenson, Clive Ross, Paul Marshall, Ian Humphreys and Rory Scholes.
I expect the battle between the two fly-halves to be a big factor in the result of this match. Owen Farrell is the form 10 in England, whilst Paddy Jackson will want to push Sexton hard for that green jersey.
Also with the ability of the two packs, it is likely that the kicking duel will set these two sides apart on Saturday. I am predicting Saracens to get back to winning ways this weekend.
