Saracens look for knock-out blow

Saracens are on the brink of a club first - earning a place in the Heineken Cup quarter-finals - with captain Neil de Kock preparing for "the most important game of our season so far" when 2006 finalists Biarritz Olympique arrive at Vicarage Road on Saturday for the potential Pool 4 decider.

Saracens have failed to qualify for the knock-out stages in their previous three seasons in the tournament while Biarritz are chasing a sixth successive quarter-final appearance.

And Saracens have their fate in their own hands, two points clear of Biarritz and four ahead of Glasgow Warriors with four Rounds gone and two to play.

"While this is undoubtedly our most important Heineken Cup game of the season so far we don't want to finish the tournament looking back and saying that it was the most important game - we want to go forward and have even more important matches," said De Kock.

"Before the start of the Heineken Cup we wanted to be in a position where we were not reliant on others to progress and we have achieved that, it is in our own hands.

"And, while it would be a massive achievement if we can make the knock-out stages for the first time, we are very mindful of the beauty of the Heineken Cup, that there are no guarantees at any spot at any stage.

"Last season we could only watch from the sidelines as the others took part in the Heineken Cup and winning a place in this season's tournament was our target.

"Now we know we have every incentive to not only make the knock-out stages but also to stay in contention in Europe's premier competition."

Saracens have lost just once in this season's tournament, a 22-21 defeat at Biarritz in Round 2, and with Director of Rugby Alan Gaffney heading back home to Australia at the end of the season they could provide him with a perfect farewell present.

And quarter-final qualification might have been as good as in the bag if they had not lost in the dying seconds down in Basque country.

"We might come to regret the 50 metre penalty goal that Dimitri Yachvili kicked to give them a one-point win," said de Kock. "It is a difficult enough place to go and win and it was gut-wrenching to not come away with four points.

"There was a losing bonus point but we have moved on and are now in a position to determine where we end up in this tournament.

"That said, we certainly expect Biarritz to be a lot tougher and stronger than they were in Round 2 - they have gained consistency as the season has gone on and you only have to look at the quality of their squad to appreciate the threat they pose.

"They have also had considerable success in the Heineken Cup and, after qualifying for the quarter-finals for the last five seasons, they have plenty of European experience.

"Biarritz are a massive team and very dangerous. They have got everything to play for and this match will go a long way to determining who will qualify for the quarters.

"They are an incredibly good defensive team and don't give away a lot of points or tries - we expect a huge defensive game from them backed up by some very exciting runners.

"But Glasgow are still very much involved and, if they go into that last game against us after beating Viadana, then we know just how formidable they are in their own back yard.

"However, we have the calibre of team to do well and progress in the tournament and all the players are desperate to push on from here."