Saracens v Toulon: Teams

Brendan Venter knows his Saracens side must win - and win well - if they are to keep alive their hopes of reaching the knock-out stages of the Amlin Challenge Cup.

Thursday night's visitors to Vicarage Road Toulon currently top Pool Three by five points - with Venter desperate to see his side cut that gap.

"The current pool three table sees Toulon have a five-point advantage on us, so it's pretty clear that we need to get the win if we are to maintain our hopes of making the knockout stages of the competition," Venter told the Hullingdon and Uxbridge Times.

"Toulon have some very good players and we are keen to make up for our defeat in the South of France earlier in the season. But we have some great players of our own and we will concentrate on our game and do what we need to do to get the win."

Schalk Brits is set to return at hooker, with fellow South African Derick Hougaard set to partner Justin Marshall at half-back.

Wikus van Heerden is rested, so Justin Melck included in the back row.

Fitness

Toulon have named a strong-looking squad as they look to secure their place in the last eight.

England internationals Jonny Wilkinson and Tom May, and Worcester-bound Luke Rooney have been named in the backline.

Skipper Joe van Niekerk has passed a late fitness test on an ankle injury, but in-form Argentina captain Juan Martin Fernadez Lobbe has been ruled out.

South African lock Ross Skeate is also missing after he sustained a slight tear to his medial ligament during Saturday's 18-7 victory over Montauban.

Saracens: 15 A Goode, 14 R Penney, 13 K Ratuvou, 12 K Barrett, 11 C Wyles, 10 D Hougaard, 9 J Marshall, 1 R Gill, 2 S Brits, 3 C Nieto, 4 S Borthwick, 5 T Ryder, 6 J Melck, 7 A Saull, 8 E Joubert.
Replacements: 16 F Ongaro, 17 M Aguero, 18 T Mercey, 19 H Vyvyan, 20 D Barrell, 21 N de Kock, 22 A Powell, 23 N Cato

Toulon: 15 L Rooney, 14 C Marienval, 13 G Lovobalavu, 12 T May, 11 C Loamanu, 10 J Wilkinson, 9 M Henjak, 1 S Taumoepeau, 2 J Djoudi, 3 T Leaaetoa, 4 E Lozada, 5 K Chesney, 6 O Missoup, 7 C Beal, 8 J van Niekerk.
Replacements: 16 S Bruno, 17 L Emmanuelli, 18 D Kubriashvili, 19 D Tussac, 20 F Contepomi, 21 M Kefu, 22 A Giacobazzi, 23 T Ryan