Saints prop Corbisiero predicts ‘nail-biting’ Premiership final

The Twickenham showdown will be between the top two teams during the regular season, with Saracens having finished nine points above second-placed Saints.

They earned a win apiece in the two league meetings, with Sarries claiming a narrow 28-24 victory in the most recent meeting, at Allianz Park last month.

And Corbisiero, who helped Saints claim Amlin Challenge Cup glory at Cardiff Arms Park last Friday, is expecting a similarly tight tussle this weekend.

“What’s at stake, the two teams that are playing, the quality on both sides, the competitiveness of the games we’ve had this year, the intensity both teams can play at, it’s a recipe for a barnstorming game,” said the England star.

“It will be a nail-biter to be involved in as well and no doubt it will go down to the wire.”

Corbisiero knows about fine margins in Premiership finals having played for London Irish in their 10-9 Twickenham defeat to Leicester in 2009.

And he said: “It showed how important every little detail is and every little battle.

“It could go down to the wire and you’ve got to make sure you leave nothing in the locker, go out there, empty the tank and give everything you can.”

Corbisiero goes into the game in good form, having made a successful return from a knee injury that had seen him sidelined for more than six months.

The 25-year-old started the Challenge Cup final victory against Bath last week and is ready for the toughest test yet.

“I’m so happy to be back, feeling healthy and playing again,” he said. “I’m in a winning side as well and what more can I ask for?

“It was great to get out there and wear the No.1 shirt again last week. It felt nice and I felt it was a good shift at the office, except my yellow card, which I was a bit annoyed about. Other than that, it was nice to be back out there.

“Hopefully I’ve just been building from performance to performance and learning the lessons from the mistakes I’ve made and putting them right the next week, which is vital in top level sport.

“This will be my fourth game back and hopefully I can continue the momentum of the last three for this one.”