SARACENS cannot afford any more slip ups if they are to secure a Premiership play-off spot, insists Alan Gaffney.

The Men in Black's director of rugby admits performances have been below par of late but has backed his talent packed squad to resume normal service when Harlequins visit Vicarage Road on Sunday (6.05pm kick off).

And Sarries will be determined to put on a show in front of the television cameras after last weekend's defeat at Newcastle Falcons resulted in a missed opportunity to get right back into the mix after the three sides above them all lost.

"We've got to start winning and can't afford any more lapses," said the Aussie. "Every game is crucial now. In the past few games we haven't played as well as we can and I haven't been able to put my finger on why.

"The attitude has been good in training and while we've not been particularly bad we've set the bar a bit high for ourselves. But we can't accept mediocrity.

"We've got to get the performance right as once that happens the tries will follow. Certain elements of our play have to be improved and we need to be a lot harder on each other."

Two tries in as many games prompted Gaffney to concede his team's finishing has not been accurate enough but he was eager not to let that gloss over the defensive effort shown.

"The tries haven't been there for us but the opposition have not been scoring either," he added.

Only Gloucester and Newcastle have got the better of Sarries at Vicarage Road this season and Gaffney cannot emphasise enough the important of winning home matches.

He has challenged his side to win their remaining five league matches at Watford against Quins, Sale, Leeds, Wasps and Bristol.

"We've got to win our home games because we can forget the whole thing (of reaching the play offs) if we don't," he stressed. "If we don't perform at home we'll be in a lot of trouble."

Gaffney welcomes back Brent Russell and Nick Lloyd to the starting line-up after returning from minor injuries.

Prop Kevin Yates and wing Kameli Ratuvou drop out of the matchday 22 while lock Tom Ryder starts with Chris Jack for the first time in place of the rested Hugh Vyvyan who became a father for the first time earlier this week.

The abrasive Kris Chesney returns at blindside flanker while Paul Gustard is given the nod at number eight.

Full-back Dan Scarbrough is a game away' from being considered and will be included in the A team for their clash at Bath United on Monday.

"Quins played pretty well against Worcester last weekend and scored five tries," said Gaffney. "They've got a lot of attacking flair and are pretty strong up front. They've scored a lot of tries this year and we're going to have to be at our best."

Saracens: Russell, Haughton, Penney, Powell, Leonelli, Jackson, de Kock (cpt); Lloyd, Ongaro, Johnston, Jack, Ryder, Chesney, Hill, Gustard.

Replacements: Kyriacou, Mercey, Fullarton, Skirving, Dickens, Ross, Thrower.

10:00am Friday 22nd February 2008

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