Sarries prepared for Wilkinson war

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Sarries, currently fourth in the Premiership, did not have a single player called up for England duty by Brian Ashton for the Six Nations this year while Newcastle - ninth in the table - had 11 players on international duty.

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Titanic trio: England's Jonny Wilkinson (above), Toby Flood and Mathew Tait, should all be involved against Saracens on Sunday

But Gaffney is unfazed, saying: "We want to face their strongest side because the home defeat we suffered to the Falcons over the Christmas period is one that still sticks in the mind.

"But we know it's not going to be an easy afternoon and Kingston Park is a very tough place to play.

"They have a good home record even though their results would not have been as they would have liked - despite the fact they beat us over Christmas." That 22-19 win came as a result of Noon's last-minute try and Gaffney argues: "They had 11 players on representative duty with England over the weekend, so those guys will be high on adrenalin and really pumped up for this one.

"The fact they had so many players away makes the size of the task we face on Sunday very clear."

With Newcastle's World Cup-winning fly-half Wilkinson under pressure after England's opening two Six Nations games - there was renewed criticism from former England team-mate Neil Back this morning - Falcons boss John Fletcher said: "Provided there are no injury niggles, all of our England players will be involved.

"They will probably view it as a chance to set the record straight after we beat them. Saracens are a gritty side that can do damage through different avenues. "We're prepared for a real battle and one that we'll win."