A lovely kick forward by full-back Alex Goode, who has played more minutes in the Premiership than any other Saracens player this season, has his side on the front foot.

Brian Moore
Former Harlequins and England hooker on BBC Radio 5 live

"That's important for Owen Farrell because he had a disappointing game with the boot last weekend.

"This game is exciting because they've both made mistakes and opportunities are being created by those."

His penalty is good and Sarries lead. For the record, the team who scored first have won each of the last three Premiership finals.

But that peters out, and Saracens win a line-out on the opposite side of the field. They get their rolling maul working pretty well, and Northampton end up dragging it down illegally. First shot at goal for England fly-half Owen Farrell...

Just as you sense the men in red and black are starting to settle, enjoying some possession, a knock-on allows Northampton to re-group. Now Jim Mallinder's side will have a line-out on halfway. Tentative start from both, still scoreless.

A first look at Sarries number eight Billy Vunipola, but he's on the wrong end of a huge hit from Saints' Sam Dickinson. Plenty of early midfield kicking, not a huge amount of ball in hand yet.

Neil de Kock's box kick for Saracens is fumbled by Stephen Myler - but backwards. Some early nerves? You wouldn't be surprised. Saints, remember, are gunning for the first Premiership title in their history.

Safely gathered by Sarries, who then win an early penalty deep inside their own half after Luther Burrell fails to move away from the breakdown quickly enough.

A first-ever Premiership final for referee JP Doyle. His whistle gets us underway. Northampton fly-half Stephen Myler puts his boot to the ball and punts long, and immediately Marcelo Bosch's kick is charged down. Early line-out.

Scott Smith:, external This year Premiership rugby has stepped up a notch. Best moment has to be the Sale win at Exeter. Proud blue!

Ross Bentley:, external Just fancy Saints today. Losing one of their primary ball carriers in M Vunipola is a big loss for Sarries. Will be close.

Image source, Getty Images

Here come the teams. A huge roar from a raucous Twickenham crowd, flames shooting into the air, the two sides running past the Premiership trophy. Do you give it a cheeky tap? I wouldn't. Northampton in their lime green change strip, Saracens in their familiar red and black. Kick-off moments away.

BBC Radio 5 live

BBC rugby union correspondent Ian Robertson: "I think it all depends how Saracens recover from the events of last Saturday. They were very much second best (against Toulon). They took a bruising, a physical hammering as well."

Former England hooker Brian Moore: "I think it depends on the forwards. Can Northampton get their driving game going? It's hugely close to call. I wouldn't put a farthing on it, if I was a betting man at all. I think early on it will be quite cagey."

Ex-England and Northampton fly-half Paul Grayson: "Just to bounce back, with a day less recovery than Northampton, takes some doing on a physical level."

BBC Sport's Nabil Hassan at Twickenham: "Northampton Saints director of rugby Jim Mallinder says there will be no panic in his squad if they trail Saracens at the break, believing they have the composure to cope with being behind in this final game of their 39-match season.

"He said: 'We have shown plenty of character and determination to come back from half-time deficits and win games, staying patient and believing in our game plan. Our experience is growing all the time'."

Image source, Getty Images

Alex Corbisiero, who has endured an injury-plagued debut season with Northampton Saints, is hoping for a dream end to the campaign by winning at Twickenham this afternoon.

The 25-year-old prop told BBC Radio Northampton: "This game is everything to the club. It's a big opportunity to win the Premiership, which is the main reason I came to a club like Northampton Saints.

"On the back of a trophy last week it would be a fairytale ending."

Kick-off is fast approaching. The players will no doubt be nervous but what's it like to have one of your children playing in a game as big as the Premiership final? BBC Radio Northampton spoke to the parents of Tom Wood and Alex and Ethan Waller to find out., external

Image source, Getty Images

Retiring Saracens captain Steve Borthwick is set to lead his side out for the final time today, for a record 265th Premiership appearance.

Earlier this week, his former Bath and England team-mate Mike Tindall described him as "the nicest man in the world off the field", but also a "nightmare" on it.

BBC Sport's Nabil Hassan at Twickenham: "Saracens director of rugby Mark McCall uses his Premiership final programme notes to pay tribute to captain Steve Borthwick and prop Matt Stevens who play their last games for the club today.

"McCall also backs his side to bounce back from last weekend's Heineken Cup defeat, adding: 'Everyone reacts to defeat in their own individual way, but our squad is very good at moving on and leaving the past in the past'."

Northampton Saints have named captain Dylan Hartley among their replacements, the England hooker having not featured since the end of March after injuring his shoulder.

Elsewhere, Kahn Fotuali'i is preferred ahead of Lee Dickson at scrum-half, while Salesi Ma'afu returns to the front row after serving a one-week ban for landing a punch on Leicester hooker Tom Youngs in the semi-finals.

Northampton Saints: Foden; K. Pisi, G. Pisi, Burrell, North; Myler, Fotuali'i; Corbisiero, Haywood, Ma'afu; Manoa, Lawes; Clark, Wood (capt), Dickinson.

Replacements: Hartley, Waller, Mercey, Day, Dowson, Dickson, Wilson, Stephenson.

Saracens are without prop Mako Vunipola, who has had surgery on a dislocated patella and will also miss England's tour of New Zealand.

Richard Barrington replaces him at loose-head, while scrum-half Neil de Kock rotates with Richard Wigglesworth to start the game at number nine.

Saracens: Goode; Ashton, Bosch, Barritt, Strettle; Farrell, De Kock; Barrington, Brits, Stevens; Borthwick (capt), Botha; Brown, Burger, B. Vunipola.

Replacements: George, Gill, Johnston, Hargreaves, Wray, Wigglesworth, Hodgson, Wyles.

Image source, Nabil Hassan

BBC Sport's Nabil Hassan at Twickenham: "Conditions could not be more perfect here in Twickenham.

"HQ looks resplendent in the early summer sun with fans of Northampton and Saracens donning short sleeves for their big day out, with the Green and Gold of Saints perhaps the more vocal around the stadium as kick-off draws closer."