Corbisiero expects ‘four or five’ teams to challenge Saints for title

And he has tipped Saracens to be the main threat, having lost in agonising fashion at Twickenham in May.

Saints snatched the league title from under the noses of Mark McCall’s men, with Alex Waller’s try deep into extra-time getting the job done in the play-off final.

And Corbisiero believes that will fuel the fires at Allianz Park as Saracens, who also lost in the Heineken Cup showpiece, bid to make amends for that heartache this time round.

“You’ve got a number of teams (who can challenge) and you could probably read out four or five,” said the England prop.

“Saracens are going to have a lot to prove after losing in that final.

“Saints lost the year before and that fired them to come back and win the next year.

“Bath are on an upward curve and although they finished just outside the top four last season, they’re really showing good potential.

“There are so many teams who are competitive and that’s what makes it so exciting to watch.”