Owen Farrell steps out of father Andy's sporting shadow on Sunday to create his own piece of rugby history by becoming the youngest player to make his English professional debut for Saracens in their EDF Energy Cup clash with Scarlets at Vicarage Road.

Farrell, who is still at school in Harpenden, will be 17 years and 11 days when he appears as a replacement to beat the previous English record held by Danny Cipriani, who was 36 days older when he first tasted senior action for London Wasps.

It will be an immensely proud day for the Farrell family, who are used to setting this kind of record. Andy was 16 when he was the youngest player to appear for rugby league club Wigan.

Andy, 33, who should be fit to return to action for Saracens next weekend, went on to become the youngest Great Britain captain and said: "I don't know who will be more excited on Sunday, Owen or the rest of the family watching in the stands.

"Owen has been working really hard at his rugby while also concentrating on his school work.

"He is in the gym at 6.30am before school to ensure he maintains the rugby work that's required along with his studies. His school work is just as important at this stage. I started playing rugby league at 16 and know what the pressures are like."

Farrell junior, an England Under-18 centre, is benefiting from the decision by Eddie Jones, the Sarries director of rugby, to adopt the kind of attitude to this Anglo-Welsh tournament that Premiership football managers take to the Carling Cup.

Jones said: "Owen played a part in two of our pre-season games and has turned out in all of our A-team matches.

"Physically, there are no problems about putting him into this environment and you just need to be aware of the mental pressures on young guys and he can cope with it.

"You give these guys a taste of rugby at this level and then assess things. That's how it works in Australia.

"It is not disrespectful to the Cup to bring in these players and it can be a very positive thing.

"These youngsters need first-team opportunities and this is a very worthwhile competition with a Twickenham final and qualification for the Heineken Cup."

Besides young Farrell, Jones has also included three members of the all-conquering England Under-20 team: wing Noah Cato, centre Alex Goode and flanker Andy Saull.

There is also a totally new face among the replacements. American Hayden Smith, is a 6ft 7in basketball player who has just completed his University studies and has been sent across the Atlantic by US RFU officials to spend the rest of the rugby season learning the trade at Sarries.

While some of the Premiership sides may be resting their top stars, when Harlequins arrive at the Liberty Stadium in Swansea on Sunday they will find a full-strength Ospreys team warming up, featuring Welsh stars Gavin Henson, Shane Williams, Ryan Jones and James Hook.

Jones, who led Wales to Grand Slam glory and the Ospreys to EDF Cup triumph last season, sums up the different attitude to the competition on the other side of Severn Bridge.

Jones said: "We have enjoyed a great run in this tournament, losing just once in our last 11 fixtures and we've had two memorable days out at Twickenham.

"If you lose your first game then it can be very difficult to progress so we realise that we have to get off to a flier."

An all-English match sends London Wasps to Gloucester and the recent Premiership fixtures will mean wholesale changes for both sides at Kingsholm tomorrow.

Meanwhile, Shane Geraghty, the talented but injury prone England star, will make a welcome return for London Irish at Worcester on Sunday along with All Blacks prop Clarke Dermody.