Line-out won by Sarries who look to maul their way forward, they're up to the Bath 22.

Danger for the hosts.

Bit of work required for Bath perhaps at the line-out... Sarries pinched the one before last and the most recent one went wide of Taulupe Faletau's grasp.

Saracens have the scrum. 15 minutes gone. This time they win the penalty at the set-piece and can kick for touch.

Bath get a free-kick at the scrum and Taulupe Faletau scythes through some cover.

The Blue Black and Whites are keeping the ball alive really well in the loose, Saracens scrambling a bit but still just the Tom Homer penalty to show for it.

Few delays at the scrum, Saracens scrum-half Ben Spencer is finally able to feed the ball into the scrum but Bath push and cause havoc before the ball goes forward.

Sarries clear their lines with a kick, Tom Homer returns it.

Bath have the champions rattled right now.

Juan Figallo goes off for a blood replacement as Vincent Koch comes on.

Bath causing problems for Saracens at the line-out but the ball goes forward and the visitors survive.

First chance for the Sarries pack to get head and feed. Almost up to the 10 minute mark.

Sloppy from Saracens off the restart, they touch the ball last as it goes to touch and Bath get a midfield line-out.

Taulupe Faletau has had a couple of monster carries already. Home side working Saracens hard here.

Expertly clipped through the uprights by the Bath full-back Tom Homer. Points to take advantage of the early pressure.

Penalty against Sarries for collapsing the scrum.

Tom Homer is taking the tee...

Bath win a big scrum, forcing a penalty and the home side look to take on the Sarries pack close to the line.

Big set-piece here...

Bath rumbled through a few phases there in midfield but made little headaway and were eventually pulled up for holding on.

Saracens have it... BUT TAULUPE FALETAU TURNS OVER!

Aled Brew scampers down field but Bath are forced into touch.

It's hotting up!

One man who might feel a bit aggrieved not to be involved for England today is Alex Goode.

He can stake his claim to Eddie Jones today.

Image source, Getty Images

We are underway and it's Bath, at a sold out Rec, who get the first phases.

Image source, Getty Images

These three could be really key for Bath this afternoon, adding their own facets of quality to the mix.

Luke Charteris is a giant, giving Jim Hamilton and Maro Itoje some hassle at the line-out and adding power to the scrum.

Taulupe Faletau is a ball-player with a bull's power in the loose and Kahn Fotuali'i adds a bit of experience and class to the halves.

Image source, Getty Images

The big news for Saracens is the return of talismanic lock Maro Itoje after six weeks out with a hand injury.

England international Itoje partners experienced Scot Jim Hamilton in the second-row, while there are internationals threaded throughout the side, especially in the backs where Alex Goode and Brad Barritt have previously worn the Red Rose with pride.

Saracens: Goode; Maitland, Tompkins, Barritt (capt), Wyles; Lozowski, Spencer; Lamositele, Brits, Figallo, Itoje, Hamilton, Rhodes, Burger, Wray.

Replacements: Saunders, Barrington, Koch, Flanagan, Brown, Wigglesworth, Bosch, Earle.

Bath have England internationals David Attwood and Semesa Rokoduguni return, though there's no Matt Banahan after he was ruled out for three months.

The impressive Taulupe Faletau, Luke Charteris and Kahn Fotuali'i also return from their international commitments. 

Bath: Homer; Rokoduguni, Clark, Tapuai, Brew; Bowden, Fotuali'i; Catt, Dunn, Lahiff, Charteris, Attwood, Garvey (capt), Ellis, Faletau.

Replacements: Batty, Obano, Palma-Newport, Grant, Mercer, Allinson, Hastings, Wilson.

Image source, Rex Features

Image source, Rex Features

Only Harlequins know the rare feeling of vanquishing Saracens in the Premiership so far this season, their sole defeat in the nine games since the campaign kicked off in September.

With four try bonus points also accrued, and a four-point gap between themselves and Wasps in second, Mark McCall's side are making big strides towards defending their crown.

Only two teams have scored more tries than Sarries, who have the toughest defence in the Premiership with just eight scores conceded.

Bath have some task on their hands to stop their relentless march.

Image source, Rex Features

After a fairly disastrous 2015-16 campaign, Bath have rediscovered some of their best form this season under director of rugby Todd Blackadder.

The Blue, Black and Whites have already won seven games, only two fewer than they managed all of last season and they've managed to maintain form even without some key absentees such as George Ford, Jonathan Joseph and Semesa Rokoduguni during the internationals.

Ford and Joseph remain part of the England set-up but Rokoduguni returns, as does Samoa playmaker Kahn Fotuali'i to bolster the halves.

Looks tasty doesn't it? Unless you're a veggie of course. Sorry.

Anyway, that's enough of the food chat for now. I've got work to do.

This opening game between Bath and Saracens needs little fanfare, it's a heavyweight tussle between two proud, old clubs.

However that's what I'm here for, so let me try to sell it to you - starting with a look at the two teams and the team news.

You could be forgiven for thinking Christmas dinner has come early, given the delicious morsels of rugby union being proffered this afternoon.

Bath welcome Saracens in the Premiership's early kick-off, the perfect appetiser for the main course - England v Australia at Twickenham.

To finish, a double dessert of derbies, in the shape of Gloucester v Bristol (16:30 GMT) and Leicester v Northampton (17:00 GMT).

Who's hungry?

Image source, Rex Features