HUGH VYVYAN insists Sunday's game against Leicester Tigers will be no place for the faint hearted.

Clashes between the two sides over recent years have been high-octane affairs, packed with incident, and the Saracens captain expects the latest instalment to be no different.

"We've got to front up to them and stand up to them physically," declared Vyvyan, who will lead the side from number eight. "We've got to front up from one to 15. You've got to look your opposite man in the face and let him know you are going to play as hard as you can against him for 80 minutes.

"They are a great team, they are in the semi-final of the European Cup and I think they might go all the way. But on the day it's 15 against 15, we've got a good side and who knows what will happen on the day."

Much is likely to hinge on the fascinating battle up front where two of the most formidable packs in the Zurich Premiership will go head to head.

"It's going to be a massive, massive battle up front," admitted Vyvyan. "Their pack, bar one or two players, is virtually the England pack and it's a huge test for us. But this is what we want and if we beat Leicester we can go into next season full of confidence."

There are number of fascinating personal duels on Sunday - Neil Back against Richard Hill in the back-row, the kicking showdown between Glen Jackson and Andy Goode and the second-row battle between Martin Johnson and Simon Raiwalui. But Vyvyan is relishing the chance to pit his wits against Martin Corry, the Leicester back-rower who got the nod ahead of the former Newcastle loose-forward for the England number eight jersey vacated by Lawrence Dallaglio.

"Martin has had a fantastic time with England recently and deserved everything he has got as he is a top bloke," said Vyvyan. "But I want to put down a marker and play well against him. Playing against Lawrence last week was a huge challenge for myself and now Martin Corry this week will be equally as tough. But it's a personal duel that I want to win."

Part of Vyvyan's job will also be to nullify the threat of Andy Goode, whose metronomic form this season has brought him 227 points - the most in the Premiership by some distance. Vyvyan played alongside Goode in an England A international against France this season and so is well aware of the threat the fly-half will pose.

"I've played against him a few times and with him once or twice," said Vyvyan. "He's a phenomenal kicker and, give him time, he's a good distributor, so we'll be looking to shut him down early doors and not let him get into his stride."

Sunday's game is the second part of a three-match trilogy for Sarries that will go a long way to deciding their fate this season. Victory over the Tigers would not only go a long way to securing a place in next season's European Cup but also provide a huge fillip going into next season, according to Vyvyan.

"The last three games for us (Wasps, Leicester and Gloucester) is the best way to finish and will give us a good guide as to where we are. These are the sort of games you really relish playing in. If this is our last home game then we want to go out on a very high note in front of what should be a big crowd."