HUGH VYVYAN is relishing the prospect of welcoming his former team-mates to Vicarage Road on Sunday.

The captain signed off his career at the Newcastle Falcons in the best possible way by lifting the Powergen Cup at Twickenham in May, but now the number eight is desperate to knock the holders out of the competition.

"I want to get them down here," he said, "give them a good beating and send them back to Newcastle. I'm a Saracens player now and thoroughly enjoying my time down here. I've no regrets about leaving Newcastle."

Vyvyan, though, admitted he was bitter about leaving Kingston Park in October with a draw from a match the Men in Black should have won by a distance. Sarries looked poised for all four points when Mark Bartholomeusz nailed a late drop goal, but Johnny Wilkinson had other ideas, snatching a draw for the Falcons with one of his trademark three-pointers.

"It was very disappointing to draw up there as we had plenty of the ball and they scored with two breakaway tries. I think they have improved quite a lot since then and they'll come down here with a certain Mr Wilkinson fit, which is obviously a huge bonus for them. It's going to be a very tough game and we are going to have to play really well to beat them. If our forwards can dominate like we did up there then we will have an excellent chance of beating them again."

However, much will depend on Sarries' ability to snuff out the threat of Wilkinson.

"He's a great player and everyone knows how good he is," said Vyvyan. "Obviously Newcastle miss him when he is away, but we are not in awe of him and certainly don't fear him and are very confident we can win the game.

"We are going to have to defend very well but I think the key for us is to dominate up front and pressurise their backs. Hopefully we will get a win and win well.

Victory would move the Men in Black into the last eight of a competition that carries the huge carrot of a place in the Heineken Cup for the winners.

"It's a great way of getting into Europe as Newcastle found out last year," added Vyvyan. "You have got to win four games and then you are in Europe, and if you get to the final it's a great day out and very exciting. It's a great competition and I'm hoping for another successful cup run. I have fond memories of winning the cup and my aim is do it with Sarries."