Preview - Saracens v Ospreys, 27/8/15 at HAC

In what's likely to be the longest pre-season ever, with the Premiership not due to start until Saturday 17 October for Saracens, they return to action with the next instalment of the "In the City" series against Ospreys, irritatingly coinciding with an Underground strike at the time of writing. [Subsequently suspended, Ed]

The timing of the match is particularly interesting, given that it is more or less at the same time as the trimming of international squads in England and Wales, so something similar to an "A" side looks highly likely for both sides. However, given that players such as Catalin Fercu have come to prominence in these matches, and providing a hint to the future, not least the dual A league and LV= Cup triumph, the contest will be no less intriguing. Ospreys will be the first team to visit Moorgate twice, as the home side look to continue their winning run there, and claim two wins out of two against the Welsh region, following the commanding 39-5 success just over a year ago. Ospreys have tended to do well in the Guinness Pro12 League, which is oddly being launched in London today, winning it in 2010 and 2012, before finishing third last season and getting squeezed out in the semi-final at Munster, as a last-gasp TMO decision ruled out what would have been a match-winning try. In Europe, they have been persistent underachievers, going right back to that famous 2008 Quarter Final where they arrived at Vicarage Road as hot favourites, but Saracens prevailed. Though they also reached the Quarter Finals in 2009 and 2010, they have not progressed from their pool since. So the match will very much be about the strength in depth on show, particularly given that the Pro12 starts in just over two weeks, and, there are eleven Ospreys in the Welsh international 38 at the moment.

Predicting a line up is naturally tricky given the availability of players and the elongated pre-season which will also encompass a home friendly with Northampton Saints on 26 September at Allianz Park, a week before another home clash against Worcester Warriors at a venue to be announced, and the quartet of matches concludes with an intriguing trip to French second tier side Aurillac, who just missed out on the top five last season. Based in the Auvergne region, it is a quick return after last season's clash with Clermont. 

The line up in the victory against the British Army in May was as below, 

15 Catalin Fercu; 14 Mike Ellery, 13 Max Wilkins (George Perkins 60), 12 Baden Kerr, 11 Nathan Earle (Ben Ransom h/t); 10 Nils Mordt, 9 Ben Spencer (Tom Whiteley 60); 1 Richard Barrington (Titi Lamositele 53), 2 Jared Saunders (Brett Sharman 53), 3 Kieran Longbottom (James Johnston 53), 4 Hayden Thompson-Stringer. 5 Hayden Smith (Henri Williams h/t), 6 Nick de Jager (Kennett O'Neil 60), 7 Matt Hankin, 8 Ernst Joubert

Looking at the likely changes to this team, Fercu will be captaining Romania at RWC, whilst Titi Lamositel joined USA Eagles captain Chris Wyles and fellow Saracen Thretton Palarmo in the recent victory against Canada - Hayden Smith also featured in the qualifying campaign, but was not in this match. The Saracens line up could look something like: Ben Ransom at full back, Mike Ellery and Nathan Earle on the wings, outside a centre partnership of Tim Streather and George Perkins. The half backs should consist of Nils Mordt and Ben Spencer, a combination we should see a lot more of once the season starts. Into the forwards, and the front row could comprise of Richard Barrington, Jared Saunders and Petrus du Plessis, whilst Hayden Thompson-Stringer and Maro Itoje would be a possible combination at lock, leaving a back row of Kelly Brown, Matt Hankin and Jackson Wray.

For Ospreys, there may be a closer relationship to the side which will start the league campaign with a daunting trip to Ulster on Friday 4 September. The line up for the Munster semi-final defeat had Dan Evans at full back, whilst Jeff Hassler and Eli Walker occupied the wings outside a centre partnership of Ben John and Fijian RWC2015 player Josh Matavesi. At half back, Dan Biggar and Rhys Webb combined for what is now the first choice Welsh international partnership. In the forwards, the front row comprised of Nicky Smith, Scott Baldwin and Moldovan international Dmitri Arhip. An all-international lock combination included Canadian captain Tyler Ardron and Ospreys skipper Alun Wyn Jones, whilst Dan Lydiate, Justin Tipuric and Dan Baker featured in the back row.

That starting XV will need at least nine changes due to involvement in RWC.  Evans should continue at full back, with Hassler on one wing and Hanno Dirksen possibly coming in on the other wing outside the centres of Ben John and Jonathan Spratt. The revamped half back pairing should be Sam Davies at fly half and Martin Roberts at scrum half. In terms of the forwards, Nicky Smith can continue at loosehead, but the hooker is likely to be Sam Parry, with Dmitri Arhip continuing at tighthead. At lock, Rynier Bernardo should team up with Rory Thornton, and in the back row, a possible trio is James King, Joe Bearman and Dan Baker, the last of whom was in the extended Welsh squad until its reduction after the Ireland warm up game.