Brendan Venter throws down the gauntlet to Saracens

Sarries, inspired by South African hooker Schalk Brits, demolished Harlequins 37-18 at Wembley on Saturday to land a bonus point and remind Leicester and Northampton they not in a two-horse race for the title.

Sarries chief Venter knows his players will have to do it the hard way — they travel to Leicester on the final day of the season — if they are to claim a top-two finish that would give them a home match in the play-off semi-finals but the South African said: "We now need to beat Northampton because we have some real momentum and are playing good rugby."

Third-placed Sarries need two more points to guarantee a place in the play-offs.

The manner of their win over Quins — Venter's men have scored 18 tries in their last four matches — makes Sarries a side to be feared, even without injured England captain Steve Borthwick, whose line-out skills will not be available until the Leicester game on 8 May.

That is why the form of Brits is so important to Sarries. Two-try Andy Saull, pressing for England recognition at No7, admits it is intimidating to see a hooker outsprinting everyone to cross the line.

"We are scoring the tries because Schalk is an incredible specimen but the rest of the guys are getting there in support," said Saull.

"I have asked him lots of times why he chose hooker when he could play wing, centre, scrum-half or anywhere in the back-row and the answer is that, like all front-row guys, he has a screw loose and just loves that battle they get into."

Venter, a former Springbok centre, believes it is inconceivable that South Africa will ignore Brits — who has three caps — for their 2011 Rugby World Cup defence in New Zealand.

"If I was South Africa coach, there wouldn't be an issue. He's got something you can't coach," said Venter.

Wasps, who won 24-20 at Worcester, are in fourth place, just a point above London Irish. They will attempt eclipse the Sarries crowd at Wembley by attracting more than 55,000 to Twickenham on Saturday for their St George's Day clash with Bath.

London Irish head coach Toby Booth admits he is relying on other teams to do his side a favour if they are to reach the play-offs following their 23-13 home loss against Leeds.

He added: "You cannot afford to relinquish control of your destiny at this stage of the season to a team fighting for their lives."