Saracens will book a home play-off semi-final if they avoid defeat against title rivals Gloucester at Vicarage Road on Sunday.

The Men in Black are poised to face the Cherry and Whites again next month in the last four and are in pole position to have home advantage after eight consecutive Premiership wins.

Captain Steve Borthwick returns, in front of their biggest crowd of the season in Watford, from a minor shoulder knock which kept him out of Saturday’s win at Exeter Chiefs. He should be joined in the side by scrum-half Neil de Kock but Adam Powell is ruled out with a slight knee injury.

Gloucester can still nick a top-two finish if they continue their recent form against Saracens.

The Cherry and Whites have already beaten them twice at Kingsholm this season and have only lost once, two years ago, to them in their last nine meetings.

Director of rugby Mark McCall said: “They have been one of the form teams in the Premiership. They have been consistent throughout the season and have improved their defence from last year. They’re well organised and coached and are a very dangerous outfit.”

When asked about the importance of putting down a marker for a probable semi-final rematch, he said: “None of that is relevant to this game. Whoever we play in the semi-final is a long time away. This is a big game in its own right and we will treat it as such.”