NEIL DE KOCK says Saracens are determined to win the EDF Energy Cup to kick-start what could be a golden era for the success starved club.

The Men in Black travel to face Leeds Carnegie in their first group game on Friday evening before hosting Bristol in the competition the following weekend. The other EDF fixture takes them to Stradey Park where LLanelli Scarlet lie in wait over the weekend of November 30-December 2.

And Sarries skipper de Kock is confident his side can fare better than they did last season where defeats to London Irish and Cardiff Blues left only a dead rubber triumph over Wasps in the final game.

"Whatever competition we are in we take seriously, and the EDF is no different," said the South African. "You are five wins away from winning a competition and we have to put everything into it.

"The players who are asked to do a job will do just that. It's another route into Europe and is a competition every team takes seriously, some more than others. It's one we want to win and get some silverware in the cabinet."

While elated by Sarries' start to the Guinness Premiership season, de Kock insists the cup competitions - the Heineken Cup follows after the Bristol game - keeps the league season fresh.

"The cup is a welcome distraction to a point," he added. "One thing that the Guinness Premiership really does is prevent teams from experiencing monotony. The cup competitions breaks it up and it's ideal from that perspective.

"There's a lot of competition for places in all positions and the cup gives other guys the chance to step up and put a claim in for a starting spot."

One player who should walk into the side when fully fit is Brent Russell. The speedster broke his collar bone in pre-season training but was this week back in action on the training ground.

"Brent is a good month away but he has started training with us," said de Kock of his team-mate and friend. "It's nice for him to be part of the squad. He is a naturally fit player and is champing at the bit to get back in there. He can't wait to play as it's been a frustrating time for him."

De Kock was equally as frustrated on his first visit to Edgeley Park on Friday night where Sarries narrowly lost to Sale Sharks.

"It was a game where we had opportunities but we didn't take them," he commented. "We played well enough to have come away with the points but we gave away some sort tries."

Despite the defeat, de Kock says the Premiership table still makes for happy reading heading into a five week break from the competition, although he insists Sarries should have been even higher.

"Ideally, we wanted to be a bit higher but to be third in the league at this stage is very good for us and we can't complain about it," he said. "After six games, to have won four of them is not a bad effort and we would have taken that at the start of the season."

Another vital statistic giving de Kock plenty to smile about is South Africa's 15-6 World Cup final win over England. The Springbok watched the game on a giant screen at the 02 Arena alongside Brent Russell, DTH van der Merwe and Richard Hill.

"It was a good atmosphere and there was massive support for England there. I am obviously delighted with the result and the likes of Brent, Cobus (Visagie), Guthrie (Hall) and myself have been all smiles on the training ground this week."