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Saracens beat Bath 38-30 at Vicarage Road in the first leg of their PARKER PEN CHALLENGE CUP semi-final, but could have taken a greater advantage to the Recreation Ground on Saturday if they hadn't let in two late tries.
"We could have shut them out of this series, but our defence let us down in the final moments," Shelford said. "We had a few guys with the flu - and that sort of thing wears you out as the game progresses. Some of them are still struggling with it, but hopefully they'll be okay by Saturday."
The All Black legend has a mostly fit squad to choose from, although injuries to lock Kris Chesney and world-class backrower Richard Hill are causing concern.
"If they're not fit, and it doesn't look like Hill will be, we'll put a couple of young players in," Shelford said.
"We haven't thought about the eight points - we're going down there in a pretty positive mood. Bath are playing for their lives in both competitions at the moment and I don't know if that's good or bad for us.
"We're going in pretty open-minded - we've got a big game against the Shoguns on the following Tuesday and we're just taking one game at a time."
Shelford said he was "not surprised" that his side and Bath were at the wrong end of the Zurich Premiership: "If you don't win games, that's where you belong.
"As a team, Bath aren't too bad. They've got a good forward pack and a very good lineout, but it's not about them - it's about us. We'll have to be at the top of our game - we've beaten them twice this season and they've beaten us once."
Shelford isn't concerned at the prospect of playing the crucial game at the Rec.
"We've got the firepower to win. The whole home and away thing annoys me - people say you can't win away, or least shouldn't expect to win away, but that's rubbish."
Shelford said the club were desperate to make the Challenge Cup final after disappointment in recent seasons.
"Obviously, it's important, because it's a way into the Heineken Cup. Making the final will be big for Saracens.
"Wasps are more than likely to make it through as well, and it will be nice to meet them in the final - they're a good side.
"I'd love to play Wasps in the final."
