91Èȱ¬

Saracens director of rugby Mark McCall is expecting Sunday’s Premiership derby at Harlequins to be far closer than last season.

Sarries have won eight consecutive encounters between the sides since January 2020 and romped to a 52-7 victory at Tottenham in March, having won 38-10 at The Stoop last November.

Despite being the only side to have won their opening three Premiership games this season, while Quins have lost two of their three, McCall expects Sunday's match to be close.

"In the years before that we have had incredibly tight and close games that have almost always gone down to the last 10 minutes - we are probably expecting a game like that this time around," he told 91Èȱ¬ Radio London

Despite Quins allowing a second-half lead to slip in their defeat against Northampton last time out, McCall is wary of the threat posed by a side boasting a host of internationals, and said: "They have a very strong core. They have got key players in important positions.

"They were well up at half-time against Northampton last week which shows you what they are capable of."

McCall is unsure whether England’s Marcus Smith will be deployed at fly-half or as full-back with Wales’ Jarrod Evans also impressing at 10, and said: "When you've got a couple of players like that on the team you're going to have to be very good defensively, very alive and engaged all the time.

"If you have a switch-off moment they are the kind of players that will capitalise on that."

McCall said new-look Sarries had room for improvement despite seeing off Exeter to remain the only unbeaten side in the division.

"The last performance we were more consistent throughout than we have been in the first couple of games," he said.

"We’re happy with the energy, spirt and fight in the team. It's a good sign and a good characteristic to have in a new team, but there is plenty to improve in our rugby.

"When you have got some new folk at your club and trying to establish partnerships and new relationships, the longer they are together the better."

Samoan flanker Theo McFarland is not available after concussion at Exeter but Maro Itoje should start after training with England this week.

Tom Parton and Sam Spink remain a few weeks away but McCall said there was a chance Ollie Hartley could be back well before Christmas as his recovery from an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury was ahead of schedule.