As if fixtures between Saracens and Leicester need anything extra riding on them. This time, for the first time, the Guinness Premiership will be decided by a meeting between two sides who have long been the best of enemies. The deep, mutual antipathy stretches back at least as far the night Martin Johnson, Leicester's iconic England captain, and Robbie Russell, the Saracens hooker, tried to punch each other's lights out in 2002.
Another former player once claimed Leicester's players would sharpen their studs ahead of matches against Saracens. He should know - he played for both sides. If it does get nasty this afternoon, it is unlikely to be any worse than the build up. Much of the angst which has foreshadowed this final emanated from the day, last month, when Saracens broke Leicester's 31 match unbeaten run at Welford Road.
The fall out from that game has meant Brendan Venter, the Saracens director of rugby, will not be able to attend the game, which could prove to be his crowning glory, in person. The charge sheet from the English Rugby Football Union included a list of misdemeanors ranging from abusing Leicester supporters, pushing a female fan and, the decisive factor, scoffing a chocolate-chip biscuit during his ensuing disciplinary hearing.
After hearing Venter's fate, Edward Griffiths, the club's chief executive, accused the game's bosses of running the English professional game like a "rural prep school". It is unlikely his salvo did Venter's appeal any good. The South African coach's initial 14-week ban was reduced to 10 after an appeal was heard on Wednesday night, but he will still be forced to sit out the final. The controversies are not going to affect the players, according to Alex Goode, the Saracens full-back who was outstanding in the semi-final win over Northampton Saints.
"I don't think it has really affected us either way," said Goode, whose Premiership form has earned him a place in the England Saxons squad this summer. "We haven't changed our preparations for the game at the weekend and I don't think anything will get in the way of business. We are aware of what we need to do. We know how we need to play. We know that, even without Brendan, we will be the same team.
"We have such a good coaching staff that it will be no problem. It would be good to have him around on the day, especially if we win, but at the end of the day we have to do our job. It is business as usual." This is the first time Saracens have appeared in Premiership final. Their success this campaign has been all the more remarkable given the massive upheaval at the club after Venter replaced Eddie Jones, the former Australia coach, at the start of the season.
"They key has been that everyone who has come in this year has added something to the squad," reasoned Goode. "Everyone has wanted to get to know everyone else, and we have become tight as a group. You just want to be at training every day and you want to be with your mates. I guess that has been the key to our success. It is a massive occasion and I really want the time to pass straight away. I can't wait for it."
Saracens are able to call on the services of their captain, Steve Borthwick, at Twickenham. His injured knee was deemed too poorly to let him go on tour with England this summer, but he is fit enough to face Leicester. While Saracens are making their inaugural appearance in a league final, it will be Leicester's sixth in succession. It could one to savour. pradley@thenational.ae Leicester v Saracens, 8.30pm KO, Showsports 4
