Preview: Saracens v Bristol

Farewell game: Hill will play in his last ever game of rugby on Saturday

Bristol Head Coach Richard Hill has handed debut starts to three players as his side prepare to take on Saracens in the unfamiliar surroundings of Stadium:MK in Milton Keynes.

With nothing to play for but pride in the past weeks Bristol have been gradually introducing several fresh faces into their team, and that continues this weekend.

Ray Hogan, Redford Pennycock and Haydn Thomas will all make their first starts in the Guinness Premiership. Pennycook will make his first start in the back row while Thomas slots in at scrum-half and Hogan at loosehead prop.

Assistant Coach John Brain, who revealed the squad to the media, said that the past few weeks have been very much about preparing for next season.

"What we've done in the last four weeks is try to get ourselves in the best possible shape for next season," he said.

"We've chosen to go without quite a few front line players but we have seen a number of individuals develop. The game will have a bearing on a number of individuals. It will be interesting to see the players with not much Premiership experience play."

"And it also will be interesting to see players who are experienced but might be challenged for their place next season by people coming in."

"Ed Barnes, for example, has done well this season but Adrian Jarvis is coming to the club from Harlequins this summer. But this is an opportunity for him to put a marker down for next season."

For Saracens Richard Hill will play his last ever game of rugby as he prepares to retire from the sport he has become a legend in.

Saracens, who hand a debut to fly-half Alex Goode, will need all his experience as they look to finish the season, and Hill's career on a high.

For Hill it will be his 288th appearance for Saracens, and new-comer Goode is honoured to get just one game alongside the England great.

"He's an absolute legend and it's been fantastic to be have trained with him over the past few years and to have the chance to play with him on Saturday will be a memory that will always be with me," explained Goode.

"I remember cheering on England in that World Cup campaign while I was still at school so to have watched his finest hour and then to be on the same field in his final match will make Saturday an extra special occasion for me."

Saracens Director of Rugby Alan Gaffney was equally prolific in praise for the flanker.

"Hilly is a player I have long admired from a distance and I consider it a privilege that I have been able to work with such a great over the past two seasons," said Gaffney.

"I can't speak highly enough of him as a player, and a person, and he deserves all the plaudits he receives after what has been a fantastic career for Saracens, England and the Lions.

"As a group we want to make sure we end on a high note for him and put in a performance that we can all be proud of, to give him the send off he deserves, and also make sure we give our fans a display they deserve after their fantastic support this season."

The change of venue is due to Watford Football Club having a home game, and thus forcing Saracens - who ground share with Watford - to head to Milton Keynes for the last game of the season.

Form: Milton Keynes' Stadium:MK venue becomes the 26th different ground to host a Premiership match. Saracens have lost their last four games in all competitions conceding 23 tries and shipping 163 points in the process. Bristol have lost five successive matches since beating Newcastle 28-8 at Kingston Park on 16 March. Saracens have already beaten Bristol at Vicarage Road this season: 45-15 in Round Two of the EDF Energy Cup on 4 November.

The Teams:

Saracens: 15 Richard Haughton, 14 Noah Cato, 13 Kevin Sorrell, 12 Adam Powell, 11 Kameli Ratuvou, 10 Alex Goode, 9 Neil de Kock (c), 8 Ben Skirving, 7 Richard Hill, 6 Paul Gustard, 5 Kris Chesney, 4 Tom Ryder, 3 Cobus Visagie, 2 Matt Cairns, 1 Nick Lloyd.

Replacements: 16 Fabio Ongaro, 17 Cencus Johnston, 18 Iain Fullarton, 19 Don Barrell, 20 Alan Dickens, 21 Gordon Ross, 22 Rodd Penney.

Bristol: 15 Luke Arscott, 14 Anthony Elliott, 13 Neil Brew, 12 Luke Eves, 11 David Lemi, 10 Ed Barnes, 9 Haydn Thomas, 8 Dan Ward-Smith (c), 7 Redford Pennycook, 6 Iain Grieve, 5 Nathan Budgett, 4 Mariano Sambucetti, 3 Peter Bracken, 2 Scott Linklater, 1 Ray Hogan.

Replacements: 16 Ryan Prosser, 17 Darren Crompton, 18 Sean Hohneck, 19 Alfie To'oala, 20 Graeme Beveridge, 21 Greg Barden, 22 Rob Higgitt.

Date: Saturday 10 May, 2008

Kick-off: 15:00 BST (14:00 GMT)

Venue: Stadium:MK, Milton Keynes

Referee: Tim Wigglesworth

Touch judges: David Kurk, David Watson

Assessor: Paul Bridgman

Television match official: Bob Ockenden