THERE are more than just vital Guinness Premiership points at stake when Saracens travel to Sixways to face Worcester Warriors tomorrow (Saturday).

The bragging rights in the Sanderson household are also on the table as Alex and his elder brother Pat go head to head for the first time in nearly four years.

The Chester-reared flankers, born just over two years apart, used to line-up together in the Sale Sharks back-row but Pat's move to Harlequins broke up the partnership and injury to both players has meant they have come face to face on only one occasion since.

"I'm looking forward to it immensely," said Alex, who has been in barnstorming form since returning from a career-threatening back and neck injury.

"I've been calling him and texting him over the last few weeks trying to wind him up and put him off his game. He has even got his mates phoning up now so I've got to watch my back when Saturday comes. I've told them there is a sandstorm coming to town so they better batten down the hatches.

"All the family are coming down so it should be a good occasion. It's nice for us all to get together as, apart from Christmas time, it never really happens."

Although it promises to a be a proud afternoon for the Sanderson family, there are sure to be more than a few anxious moments as both players are renowned for their abrasive style of play and are expected to go at it hammer and tong at the weekend.

Said Pat: "We won't go looking for each other.

"The game has moved on from the days when you can have personal battles. It's much faster and there's more fluidity. If you start concentrating on anything like that you can lose your way in the game.

"But I'm sure if the occasion arises that he should hurt me or vice-versa there will be no love lost and it will give us something to talk about after the game.

"But it will be great to come up against Alex. First and foremost my brother is my best mate. We are a close family and he and I are very close. We speak most days and we are always encouraging each other.

"It's been a difficult period for him over the last 18 months because he has had a lot of problems with different injuries. I take an awful lot of pleasure from him playing again because he has had some dark moments.

"But, in some ways, I wish he was making his comeback next week because he's playing well.

"He's had a long lay-off and has come back with renewed vigour. He seems to be playing pretty well at the moment and he's certainly playing very abrasively."