Saracens are not expecting Owen Farrell to be available for their crunch European Champions Cup quarter-final tie against Leinster next weekend.
The England captain will face an online independent disciplinary panel at 7pm BST on Tuesday night after the first red card of his career for a hit on Wasps’ Charlie Atkinson.
Saracens’ director of rugby Mark McCall described Farrell as “incredibly regretful” for a tackle “he knew he had got wrong”.
“I think we can safely assume that Owen won't be available for that game [Leinster] and we will plan as such,” said McCall.
McCall added that Saracens will make use of Farrell’s experience, even if they are not expecting him to be involved in the game itself.
“He will definitely be involved in helping the squad before that game,” he said.
Alex Goode is likely to start at fly-half in Farrell’s absence, with Manu Vunipola, the 20-year-old cousin of Mako and Billy, on the bench.
The youngest Vunipola starts at no10 at Sale on Tuesday night in a team showing 15 changes from the Wasps game.
Saracens also welcome back Scotland centre Duncan Taylor for the first time since February after a shoulder operation. His availability against Leinster would be a huge boost.
Saracens are, however, frustrated by Mako Vunipola’s slow recovery from a back spasm, which McCall admits is “lingering for longer than we had hoped”.
McCall said that Vunipola is not required to play against Exeter this weekend to prove his fitness for the Leinster game.
