I love beating Quins in a Saracens shirt - Tizard

Hugh Tizard moved to Saracens from Harlequins in 2022

Saracens lock Hugh Tizard says London derbies against Harlequins are the games he looks forward to most, as he prepares for Sunday's visit to his old club at The Stoop.

The 24-year-old came through the Quins academy and made 45 appearances for the first team before moving to Sarries in 2022.

Tizard won the Premiership title in his first season at StoneX Stadium and has featured in four of their games this campaign.

"I really enjoy it [playing at The Stoop]," he told BBC Radio London.

"It's an amazing, amazing stadium, I'm not going to deny that. There's a great atmosphere but I particularly love beating Quins there wearing a Saracens shirt.

"It's the game I want to win the most every year so I look forward to the home and away fixtures."

Saracens are top of the early-season Premiership table with three bonus-point wins from three games.

Harlequins have won one of their opening three matches and are seventh in the table.

'We didn't do ourselves justice last season'

Danny Wilson's Harlequins have won one of their opening three Premiership matches

Quins have not beaten Sarries for 1,722 days, since before the Covid pandemic.

The north London side completed a league double over their rivals last season.

A summer of change then followed for Sarries as former England captain Owen Farrell, Mako and Billy Vunipola, and the retiring Sean Maitland and Alex Lewington, all left.

"Although they've lost a few [players], when you look at who they've replaced them with there's some real quality there," Harlequins head coach Danny Wilson said.

"They've always been a very strong Premiership team year in, year out, but we've focused a little more on ourselves.

"This week is about making sure we take our learnings from Northampton and we put those into the Saracens game.

"We're fully aware of what Saracens are capable of but at the same time we’re fully aware of what we can do.

"I don’t think we did ourselves justice against them last year and we certainly want to do that at home."

'It's a derby, it adds a bit of spice'

Stephan Lewies stepped down as Harlequins club captain in the summer

Harlequins come into the game on the back of a 33-29 defeat by reigning champions Northampton Saints.

Leigh Halfpenny returns to the side from injury, which means England's Marcus Smith will start in is regular position of fly-half, having scored two tries at full-back against Saints.

South African Stephan Lewies will again captain the side with Alex Dombrandt still sidelined.

"We're professional rugby players and you play week in, week out, you have the ways you prepare for a game and you don't want to go too far away from your normal processes but in the back of your mind you always know there’s something extra," Lewies said.

"It's fun playing these games, everyone wants to be selected, wants to be playing.

"Everyone is putting their hands up because it's a derby, it adds a bit of spice."