Wikus Van Heerden admits he joined Saracens because he believes they are good enough to win trophies.

The South African World Cup winner is set to make his long-awaited debut tomorrow when the Men in Black take on Gloucester and with the calibre of players at the club, he is confident they can challenge for the top honours domestically and in Europe.

Van Heerden said: "I want to be as big a benefit to the team as possible. I really have my goals set on the Heineken Cup and the Premiership and I definitely feel with the sort of players that I am involved with and the coaches, the sky is the limit.

"I wouldn't have come here if it was just to play in the competition. I came here to win competitions and that was one of the things that impressed me most when Eddie approached me.

"I've come here to make myself a better player and also to win trophies. We certainly have the squad that is capable of doing it and from what I have seen so far, the effort, desire and willingness to work hard for it are just as evident."

The 6ft 4in forward says he cannot wait to pull on the shirt after moving from South Africa to St Albans two weeks ago.

Van Heerden said: "I've enjoyed training with the guys this week and I'm hoping to get the chance to make my home debut on Sunday. I'm just really looking forward to the game. It's been nice but I will only really start enjoying it once I get some game time on the field.

"I've been following Saracens' results very closely since the new season began and the side has made a good start. Now I want to play my part in all of that and get into the first team.

"That's my main goal. I have to earn a place in the first team and that is my focus right now. I'm really looking forward to the challenge ahead in what promises to be an exciting time for the club. Looking around the team room, there is a great set of players who are winners and I'm no different."

The 29-year-old back row forward's move to Vicarage Road was confirmed back in May but he has only just finished the season with the Blue Bulls. After talking to Saracens director of rugby Eddie Jones, he knew his ambition could be matched by the club.

He said: "We built up contact with Eddie and after the World Cup, as he was a consultant with the Bulls, he approached me because at that stage I said I was very interested in playing in Europe. I said I would really like to come to Saracens and he said 'it would be great to have you.' I have the utmost respect for him as a coach."

He celebrated winning the World Cup with South Africa last year but has not featured in the national squad recently. Van Heerden would relish the chance to play for South Africa again but his attention has firmly turned to playing for Sarries.

"I will always be keen to play for my country and representing them will always be a big honour but at this stage I'm not in the mix. So my focus is now on Saracens and the Premiership.

"It was a huge blessing just to be part of the World Cup set-up and it's something different. There are a lot of things I've learned throughout my career but the biggest lesson I've learned is that you never know anything! There is still a lot I can learn and I’m looking forward to learning."

Van Heerden could be joined on the pitch by centre Brad Barritt on Sunday, another debutant, but the pair have already been in close quarters after they faced off in the Currie Cup final last month between the Bulls and the Sharks. Barritt's side came out on top and he is happy to be on the same side now. Knowing him and several other South African players has certainly made the transition to England much easier for the forward.

Van Heerden, who has played in Watford once before when the Cats played Saracens three years ago in a friendly, added: "The thing is Brad is a guy that I know less than Neil De Kock and Cobus Visagie who have already been at the club. The guys that are around here are class players and it just makes it so much easier fitting in. You immediately know your responsibilities.

"I've asked him [Barritt] not to rub it in [cup final defeat]. They haven’t been giving me too much flak about it."