Saracens v Glasgow: Champions Cup quarter-final, today 1pm at Allianz Park. Live on Sky Sports 4.
What’s at stake?
In the last eight of the Champions Cup for the first time, the Warriors have the incentive of a semi-final at Murrayfield to play for. Saracens have their European title on the line.
How did they get here?
Glasgow qualified as one of the three best runners-up in their pool, finishing behind Munster. They secured qualification with one of their best results ever - a 43-0 win at Leicester. Saracens were top of a pool that also contained Toulon, Sale and Scarlets.
What form are the teams in?
Glasgow have won their last two league games, but, with most of their internationals absent, lost the three before that to leave themselves little chance of reaching the PRO12 play-offs. Saracens are third in the Premiership and thrashed Bath 53-10 in their last game.
Do Glasgow have a chance?
Yes, but they will need to be at their very best against opponents who Gregor Townsend has acknowledged have been the best team in Europe over the past couple of years. That means returning to the form they showed against Leicester back in January - something of which they have given us no more than the odd glimpse since.
Where will the game be won and lost?
Everywhere. Saracens have a good all-round game built on pressurising the opposition, so Glasgow cannot afford to have a few players off-form. They can put in patchy displays against some opponents in the PRO12 but come out on top thanks to the brilliance of individuals such as Stuart Hogg. That will not be an option here.
What will be the key clash?
Having said that every individual battle will play its pattern, the clash between stand-offs Finn Russell and Owen Farrell should go a long way to determining the outcome. If his pack are up against it, Russell will need to make the most of every possession, deciding wisely between options that are adventurous and those that are just too risky.
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