ANDY FARRELL will make his Saracens debut in the friendly with Bedford Blues tomorrow (Saturday).

Farrell has been named at inside centre for the clash at Goldington Road and all eyes will be on the former Great Britain captain too see how he fares in his first game since making the switch from rugby league.

"I've fitted in very well with a good squad," said Farrell, who has not played in a competitive game in either code since injuring his knee in November. "Pre-season in both sports is much the same and I just can't wait to get started now and find out what rugby union is all about."

Farrell was put through his paces in a probables v possibles game at Old Albanians on Wednesday afternoon - a game that left Kyran Bracken with a broken nose - and he will be joined in the midfield by Ben Johnston as Steve Diamond and Mike Ford look to fine tune the team ahead of the clash with London Wasps at Twickenham a fortnight tomorrow.

There has been much conjecture about Farrell's position but Diamond has made no secret of the fact that he views the inside centre berth as the best position to utilise Farrell's "world class skills".

"To start with we'll be looking at the inside centre role for him," confirmed the director of rugby. "With his distribution skills and his ability to understand where he is on the field is such that he will be a major decision maker for us.

"We've said from day one we want him to be one of our main receivers and it's irrelevant really want number he wears on his back from set-piece because it's from set-piece where we feel he can do some damage for us.

"We've got a 6ft 4inch, 18 stone player on our hands who can run, kick, pass and catch probably better than most people.

"Whether he can attack off the back of a scrum better than (Hugh) Vyvyan is another matter or if he can get up as high in the air (from a lineout) as Kris Chesney is another matter. But we've got to get his understanding of the game sorted out first."

Diamond has named near full strength side for the clash with the National League Division One side, with only Iain Fullarton (heel), Simon Raiwalui (thumb), Bracken (nose) and Shane Byrne (away with Ireland) unavailable.

Probable team: Castaignede, Haughton, Johnston, Farrell, Vaikona, Jackson, Dickens; Yates, Cairns, Visagie, Chesney, Vyvyan, Randell, Sanderson, Skirving.