Northampton get their first points on the board thanks to fly-half Fin Smith after Saracens had been penalised.

Lennie Newman
Former Northampton Saints player and manager on BBC Radio Northampton

Image source, Getty Images

It's an odd-shaped ball, it took George Furbank out of the game and sat up for Sean Maitland.

I don't think Saints will be too concerned about that but it's good play from Saracens, putting the ball in the right places.

Matt Baird: How on earth have Saracens still got 15 on the pitch?! Horrendous decision in the first minute of the game - horrible officiating.

And now the man at the centre of that, Sean Maitland, has scored.

Paul Grayson
Former England fly-half on BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra

That was a breathtaking counter-attack from Saracens from behind their own line.

Alex Lozowski didn't quite have the legs to go all the way but Northampton did well to then poach the ball and clear.

Northampton go through the phases near the Saracens line, but they lose the ball.

Alex Goode leads the counter-attack from behind his own line before moving through to Sean Maitland and Max Malins, but Alex Lozowski can't quite finish it off and Northampton turn it over.

Brilliant end-to-end rugby. More of the same please!

The first moment and the first man down!

Saints full-back George Furbank is up well to take the high ball before he is clattered in mid-air by Sean Maitland.

There is plenty of chat between the referee and the TMO, but they decide that there will be no punishment for the Saracens man.

Saracens were led onto the field by club legend Jackson Wray. This is his last home game after 14 years of service.

He will be hoping this is not his last game, though.

As well as this live text commentary, you can follow this match live on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra.

There is also more local coverage on BBC Radio London and BBC Radio Northampton.

Image source, Rex Features

If this season's two league fixtures are a barometer of things to come, we should be in for a treat.

Saracens beat Northampton 45-39 at the StoneX Stadium in November, recovering from a 14-point deficit to win with Ben Earl to the fore.

Then last month, Saints completed a 38-29 win at cinch Franklin's Gardens although Saracens were reduced to 14 men after Duncan Taylor was sent off early on.

Between 2013 and 2015, these sides faced each other three times post-season.

Northampton won on Saracens' patch in 2013 and Saracens did the opposite two years later, but in 2014, they met in the Twickenham final.

That afternoon, it took a try from the final play in the final minute of extra time from prop Alex Waller to seal a dramatic 24-20 victory for Saints.

Will we have that sort of drama this afternoon?

How are you feeling Sarries and Saints fans? Nervous, confident?

It has been a difficult season for Premiership Rugby with the collapse of Worcester Warriors and Wasps and financial concerns, so let's hope this afternoon showcases the best of English club rugby.

Whatever your thoughts about the state of this match or the club game in general, please feel free to get involved using the #bbcrugby tag.

With their top-two spot secured since the end of March, Saracens have been building for this game ever since.

They have recalled six England internationals for this one with captain Owen Farrell, Jamie George, Maro Itoje, Max Malins, Mako Vunipola and Ben Earl all back in the starting XV.

It is a side packed with experience and know-how of winning big matches.

Saracens: Goode, Malins, Lozowski, Tompkins, Maitland, Farrell (capt), Van Zyl; Vunipola, George, Riccioni, Itoje, Tizard, Isiekwe, Earl, Wray.

Replacements: Dan, Mawi, Judge, Hunter-Hill, Knight, De Haa, Taylor, Daly.

Northampton make three changes from the team that thrashed Newcastle on 21 April to guarantee their play-off spot.

There are two changes in the front row as 'Top Gun' hooker Tom Cruse and prop Trevor Davison come in, along with Australian winger James Ramm, who is fit again after a shoulder injury.

Northampton: Furbank, Ramm, Dingwall, Hutchinson, Freeman, F. Smith, Mitchell; A. Waller, Cruse, Davison, Ribbans, Moon, Lawes, Ludlam (capt), Augustus.

Replacements: R. Smith, E. Waller, Hill, Salakaia-Loto, Scott-Young, Graham, James, Collins.

Image source, Rex Features

Northampton's regular season ended three weeks ago with a thumping victory at Newcastle Falcons, but it was only Saracens' win over London Irish two days later that confirmed their play-off spot.

The Saints finished 16 points behind today's opponents in the table and lost nine of their 20 league games, but they begin this match on an equal footing.

Northampton have been the great entertainers this season in the Premiership. Only Saracens scored more points, only bottom side Newcastle conceded more.

They start this game as big outsiders, but does director of rugby Phil Dowson have a plan that will take the Saints to Twickenham?

Image source, Rex Features

Saracens have spent most of this season top of the pile in the Premiership.

But they are still 160 minutes away from glory with two huge tests before they can lay claim to any silverware.

Between 2015 and 2019, Saracens won at Twickenham four times in five seasons to be the best in England.

But following their huge 70-point deduction months later and subsequent relegation, the North London club have had to battle their way back to the top.

They came up just short against Leicester in the final 12 months ago with an agonising 15-12 loss, but director of rugby Mark McCall and his talented and experienced squad are determined to restore Saracens to the top.

Image source, Rex Features

The sun is out and summer is just around the corner. That means we have reached the business end of the rugby season.

There are no second chances now. The top four teams in English rugby are ready to battle it out to decide who makes the Premiership final at Twickenham on 27 May.

Eight months of blood, sweat and toil come down to 80 minutes.

Who is ready for the Premiership play-offs?

It's go hard or go home!