Europe's elite tournament needs more uncertainty rather than another shakedown towards an inevitable Leinster-Toulouse final.
Saracens player ratings: Mark McCall's Sarries' 29-22 triumph at Mattioli Woods Welford Road was a testament to their lightning-fast start and an impressive second-half surge.
Saracens’ decision to prioritise the Gallagher Premiership over Europe paid off as they boosted their play-off hopes by edging Leicester 29-22 at Mattioli Woods Welford Road.
England lock Ollie Chessum will return to Leicester Tigers' starting XV on Sunday as his side host Saracens in the Gallagher Premiership.
Harlequins defied the absence of their England stars to stun Saracens 23-12 after coming alive in the second half of their Gallagher Premiership clash at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
England captain Maro Itoje will return to captain a Saracens side containing four of his international team-mates during the Guinness Six Nations when they host Harlequins in the Gallagher Premiership on Saturday.
England have called Max Ojomoh into their 35-man squad ahead of their final match of the Guinness Six Nations against Wales as a replacement for his injured Bath team-mate Ollie Lawrence.
Ben Spencer, who has been replaced by van Poortvliet, was one of eight players from last week’s Calcutta Cup squad not included in the reduced squad that assembled in York on Wednesday.
The English kick-started their season with last Saturday’s last-gasp round two Allianz Stadium win over France.