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Aviva Premiership: Saracens, Wasps, London Irish and Harlequins in Saturday's London Double Header

Following the agony of extra-time defeat at Twickenham last season, Saracens get their 2014/15 campaign underway on Saturday with a ‘London Double Header’ clash against Wasps at Twickenham.

After dropping their capital tag during the close-season, Wasps could not have asked for a tougher test to open the new season against their London rivals.

Last season Saracens broke the record for the most points in a season with a round to spare, becoming the first team since 2000 to chalk up 19 wins in a season.

Chris Ashton of Saracens breaks away to score a try during the Aviva Premiership semi-final
Image: Prolific winger: Ashton

Wasps meanwhile were left to settle for seventh, though, their European playoff victory and some shrewd summer recruitment will give them confidence for the new term.

Saracens are led by Alistair Hargreaves for the first time as he takes up the role of club captain and the lock is joined by Scottish international Kelly Brown and England No 8 Billy Vunipola in a formidable pack.

England trio Alex Goode, Chris Ashton and Brad Barritt all feature in Mark McCall’s backs, while Owen Farrell settles for a place among the replacements for their season curtain-raiser.

Summer signings Rob Miller, Sailosi Tagicakibau, Lorenzo Cittadini and James Gaskell will all make their Premiership debuts in Wasps shirts.

More from Aviva Premiership 2014/15, Round One

England flanker James Haskell assumes captaincy duties from Chris Bell, who retains his place in the centres.

Capital clash

Following Saracens and Wasps on the Twickenham stage are Harlequins and London Irish and the Exiles return to Rugby HQ with an unenviable record.

Irish have won just one of their last nine visits to Twickenham in all tournaments - a Double Header victory over Saracens in 2010 and have only beaten Quins once in the teams' last seven encounters.

Image: Quins debut: Yarde

Exiles skipper George Skivington leads a side which includes five new signings and there are also returns for a key duo.

Full-back Tom Homer and prop Halani Aulika both make their comebacks following long-term injuries and provide a boost to Brian Smith’s squad.

England winger Marland Yarde will make his debut for Harlequins against his former employers, joining international colleagues Danny Care and Mike Brown in the backs.

Quins director of rugby Conor O’Shea opted to hand the captaincy to Joe Marler over the summer in a bid to relieve the pressure on England skipper Chris Robshaw, who retains his familiar No 7 jersey.

Cipriani century

Two teams very much at the heart of last season’s gripping battle for playoff places were Sale Sharks and Bath, who lock horns at the AJ Bell Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

Semesa Rokoduguni of Bath is tackled by Phil Dollman of Exeter during the LV= Cup Semi Final
Image: Formidable flyer: Rokoduguni

Bath's 19-13 loss at the AJ Bell Stadium last October heralded the start of an 11-game winning streak in all competitions propelling them towards the top of the Aviva Premiership.

Equally, a home loss to the Sharks spelled the beginning of the end of their play-off hopes, losing out in dramatic fashion to Harlequins on the final day of the season.

After earning an England recall, Danny Cipriani will make his 100th Sharks appearance, while new signings Nathan Hines, Chris Cusiter and Luke McLean all make their Sale debuts.

Bath hand a debut to Luke Arscott at full-back and the West Country new boy is joined by the speedy duo of Semesa Rokoduguni and Anthony Watson in the back three, while England hooker Rob Webber leads a strong pack.

Burns bow

After missing out on the Premiership final for the first time since 2004 last season, Leicester Tigers will aim to make an emphatic start to the new campaign with Newcastle Falcons visiting Welford Road.

Image: Captain crocked: Slater

Tigers finished last season third in the table, before losing to eventual champions Northampton Saints in the semi-final, but the shrewd acquisition of Freddie Burns from Gloucester Rugby should prevent any backward step following captain Toby Flood's decision to join Toulouse.

Burns makes his Tigers debut in the season opener alongside fellow newcomers Seremaia Bai and Leonardo Ghiraldini, with England scrum-half Ben Youngs captaining the side for the first time in league competition with club captain Ed Slater out injured.

For the Falcons, full-back Simon Hammersley makes his Premiership debut after an impressive pre-season and new signings Juan Pablo Socino and Josh Furno also start, with former Tiger Alesana Tuilagi on the bench.

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