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The team huddles and flag-waving are done.

There's been a minute's applause for Worcester's long-serving member of staff Brian Jeff, who died this week at the age of 72.

They're now underway at Sixways, and it will be tense.

Bristol make one change from the local derby win over Bath, as prop Gaston Cortes replaces Anthony Perenise.

Leading try scorer Tom Varndell starts on the wing after recovering from a head injury suffered against the Blue, Black and Whites.

Image source, BBC Sport

Replacements:  Crumpton, O'Connell, Ford-Robinson, Jeffries, Fenton-Wells, Williams, Pisi, Wallace.

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So often by this stage of the Premiership season the relegation situation is all but sorted, with one team well adrift of the rest.

But with five or six games to go it looks very interesting at the bottom of the table.

Whoever loses between Worcester and Bristol will almost certainly end the afternoon in the relegation spot, while 10th-placed Sale won't exactly be sitting comfortably either...

Worcester have full-back Chris Pennell back for the first time since losing at Bristol on Boxing Day.

There are recalls for prop Val Rapava Ruskin after a back problem and flanker Chris Vui, while number eight Marco Mama makes his first Premiership start since September.

The Warriors are forced into a late change in the front row after hooker Niall Annett failed a late fitness test.

Joe Taufete'e replaces him, with Matti Williams on the bench.

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Replacements: Williams, Bower, Alo, Cavubati, Potgieter, Baldwin, Lamb, Humphreys.

The hosts have made it to the midway point with their chances of getting something from this game intact.

It could've been better for Newcastle, but Sinoti Sinoti makes a bad decision after a great break and the moves falls down.

Sarries probably don't deserve to be this far ahead, but that's what they do.

Richard Wigglesworth, you have claimed a lovely assist there.

It's an inch-perfect grubber kick behind the Falcons defence and Alex Lozowski shows pace to get there first under the posts.

Was he offside? It doesn't matter as it's given and Lozowski converts to further increase Sarries lead with half time approaching,

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This has been the decisive moment of the game so far.

Sonatane Takulua looked destined to score Newcastle's first try of the afternoon but was brilliantly thwarted by Sean Maitland just short of the line.

Sarries have Jim Hamilton down and being attended to, before Alex Lozowski finds touch from a penalty to move the hosts back towards their 22.

Sarries attack and Falcons are left with little alternative but to concede a penalty.

Alex Lozowski is accurate with his kick, and Mark McCall's side are doing well considering all the players they have missing.

Duncan Taylor has limped off for the visitors, with Nathan Earle off the bench for the second time with 10 minutes left of the half.

Image source, Rex Features

Moments after almost going behind, Saracens nearly move at least seven points ahead.

Chris Ashton chips, runs, gets to the ball but agonisingly knocks-on.

Brad Barritt is back on for the visitors, but Falcons have survived the onslaught and move clear of their 22 for now with less than 15 minutes until the break.

So close yet so far for Sonatane Takulua.

He and the Newcastle fans were adamant he'd scored a try to add to his kicking points, but the TMO shows the ball was grounded short of the line.

Well done to Sarries man Sean Maitland for forcing Takulua to spill, and to the officials for getting the decision right.

The biggest cheer of the afternoon so far at Kingston Park.

Vereniki Goneva, not known for his kicking, pelts one deep into Sarries territory and Sean Maitland can only fumble the bouncing ball into touch.

From the lineout Falcons look to get into driving maul mode, and are only five metres from the visiting try-line.

There's a bit of a lull in proceedings while Newcastle prop Jon Welsh receives treatment.

Falcons win their lineout this time after the restart, and win a penalty as Sarries knock-on while attempting to intercept a pass.

The visitors have Brad Barritt off the field for a head injury assessment - Nathan Earle takes his place for now as we reach the 16th minute.

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After a frenetic start, Sarries are starting to get their trademark stranglehold on this match.

A Falcons lineout goes awry and the visitors go through the phases going forward but, with the ball out wide, Saracens are penalised and Newcastle live to fight another day.

A second misdemeanour of the match from Saracens, this time at the breakdown.

Tonga international Sonatane Takulua steps up once again and does the business from the resulting penalty, putting Falcons to within two points.

Plenty going on in the opening 12 minutes.

Premiership and European champions Sarries just don't let you rest for a moment.

Falcons are on the attack but it's turned over and though the hosts briefly regain possession, lock forward Mike Rhodes intercepts a pass before dotting down over the line.

The conversion from Alex Lozowski is wide.

It's taken Sarries and England number eight Billy Vunipola less than five minutes to make an impact on his injury return.

A forceful carry ups the pressure on Falcons, who concede a penalty.

Alex Lozowski smashes the ball over to level things up at Kingston Park.