Johannesburg — EGOS and the possibility of leaving a lasting impression on Springbok coach Peter de Villiers ahead of the 2011 Rugby World Cup are expected to turn a midweek tour game into a clash of international proportions tonight when Saracens meet the Bok dirt-trackers in London.

A large contingent of the Saracens side named yesterday are South African expats who had blurry futures at international level or would never have cracked the nod for the national team, prompting them to head overseas.

These players -- including former Bok flank Wikus van Heerden, scrumhalf Neil de Kock, flyhalf Derick Hougaard and hooker Schalk Brits and uncapped players, centre Brad Barritt, flank Justin Melck and No8 Ernst Joubert -- will want to prove a point against SA's young and upcoming players.

While the Bok dirt-trackers will be desperate to restore their tarnished reputations after being outclassed by Leicester last week, Saracens will look at the game as a chance to show off their quality against "the world champions".

This will also be the last chance for many of the uncapped South African touring party to play themselves into the Test team to face Italy on Saturday and Ireland next week. So important was the clash for Saracens director of rugby, former Bok centre Brendan Venter, he tried to pick up a few tips from the Springbok Test team's training session yesterday, as many of the young team's moves are similar. Springbok management quickly got wind of his presence and asked Venter to leave, which he argued against.

Bok captain Dewald Potgieter admitted that a win was important to restore their reputation, but he believed their familiarity with many Saracens players would assist their cause. "Saracens are a very physical team so we have to be prepared for that," said Potgieter. "But we have played against a lot of their players in the past and are familiar with their style of play, which is a bonus. This is an important game to get the tour back on track after the Leicester game and the Test against France, so it is vital that we win."

De Villiers was wary of the onslaught that awaited his team and said: "There are so many South African players in their team. They will look at the game as an opportunity to make an impression ahead of the world cup and while South African rugby is on a high. It will be a tough game."

Van Heerden, who will lead Saracens and has been named in a proudly South African loose trio with Melck and Joubert, was excited and said he expected an epic battle. "I don't expect anything less than international standards, it's definitely going to be a tough one."

n In the Bok Test team, wing Bryan Habana was cited yesterday for kicking an opponent in Friday's clash against France and could be in doubt for Saturday's Test in Udine.

The player will appear before a disciplinary committee tomorrow.

Should Habana be suspended, it will complicate matters for De Villiers, as he will have little time to select a capable replacement, which is bound to disrupt the backline.

SPRINGBOK SQUAD

Earl Rose; Odwa Ndungane, Juan de Jongh, Wynand Olivier, Jongi Nokwe; Ruan Pienaar, Heini Adams; Ashley Johnson, Dewald Potgieter (capt), Jean Deysel; Andries Bekker, Danie Rossouw; CJ van der Linde, Adriaan Strauss, Wian du Preez

Reserves: Bandise Maku, Heinke van der Merwe, Alistair Hargreaves, Davon Raubenheimer, Francois Hougaard, Meyer Bosman, Riaan Viljoen.

SARACENS SQUAD

Michael Horak; Noah Cato, Kameli Ratuvou, Brad Barritt, Michael Tagicakibau; Derick Hougaard, Neil de Kock; Ernst Joubert, Justin Melck, Wikus van Heerden (capt), Hugh Vyvyan, Mouritz Botha; Richard Skuse, Ethienne Reynecke, Rhys Gill

Reserves: Schalk Brits, Carlos Nieto, George Kruis, Andy Saull, Kevin Barrett, Alex Goode, Rodd Penney.