Burke is enjoying high life at Quins

"Getting as many points under our belts while the World Cup is on will set us up for the second half of the season.

"We dogged out a win against London Irish last Saturday without playing our best, which is a good sign I suppose because some Quins teams of the recent past might not have been able to do that.

"But Saracens will be a very tough game and we won't get carried away."

Saracens are unbeaten in their last five home games while Harlequins are seeking a fifth successive league victory for the first time in almost five years.

Jim Evans replaces injured Simon Miall in the Quins second row, while Mike Worsley is likely to start on the bench, with Ceri Jones deputising at prop. Saracens welcome back centre Ben Johnston, who has recovered from a virus, but the continued absence of lock Alex Codling - who moved from Harlequins in the summer - has disrupted their line-out planning.

London Irish have spent the week reflecting on their defeat against Quins, with coach Gary Gold saying: "We made far too many errors at the Stoop. We are now looking for major improvements."

Irish make three changes for the visit of Leeds Tykes to the Madjeski Stadium. Phil Murphy replaces Paul Gustard in the back row, Mark Mapletoft is restored to fly-half and Nils Mordt comes in for Nick Greenstock, who suffered a fractured shoulder in the incident in which Quins hooker Ace Tiatia was this week cited for foul play.

In the third match being staged on Sunday in the Thames Valley 'rugby triangle' between Watford, Reading and Wycombe, there are returns for scrumhalf Rob Howley and second-rower Richard Birkett as London Wasps take on Bath. Wasps will still be without injured hooker Phil Greening. Kick-off has been brought forward to 2pm.