SARACENS moved to ease their back-row crisis this week by landing Simon Taylor, the Scotland and British Lions loose-forward, on a week's loan.

The 25-year-old Edinburgh Rugby star flew into London on Wednesday evening and is expected to make an appearance from the bench in tomorrow's Zurich Premiership clash with Northampton Saints.

Taylor is likely to start the friendly with Super 12 outfit the Cats at Vicarage Road on Wednesday night and play a part in the league game with London Irish next week as he makes his way back from a knee injury that has kept out of the game for almost a year.

"We are delighted to be able to offer Simon his introduction back to top-class rugby after his unfortunate injury," said head coach Steve Diamond.

"We were aware that Simon is coming back to full fitness and he had nowhere to play.

"He is world class, one of the top ten players in the world and he will add more quality to what is already a very good pack."

Diamond made a move for Taylor, who made a try-scoring debut for the Lions in 2001, after seeing his back-row options reduced further when Ben T Russell jetted off to Wellington with the England Sevens squad.

Diamond is already without long-term injury victims Alex Sanderson, Richard Hill and Ben Skirving but received a boost when Hugh Vyvyan and Dave Seymour missed out on selection for the England full squad and Under-21's respectively.

With the Celtic League closed down over the Six Nations, Taylor jumped at the opportunity of some match practice and is looking forward to lacing up his boots once more as he bids to stake a claim for a place on Sir Clive Woodward's British Lions tour party in the summer.

"I'm very excited just to be playing again in quite strange circumstances," he said. "I'm ready to go but I'd caution against expecting miracles."