The 28-23 defeat by Gloucester could in fact be the wake-up call needed to spur Saracens on to the greatest achievement in club rugby, the domestic and European double.

As disappointing as the loss would have been to the team, only their fourth Premiership defeat this season as pointed out by Mark McCall after the result, it could be a blessing in disguise.

The Men in Black have been on somewhat of a roll in recent times, not only racking up the wins, but scoring tries in the process, something they have been frequently criticised for failing to do.

The Gloucester result may have been a speed bump in the road, but it could also remind Sarries that things don’t ever go smoothly.

Toulon will be formidable opposition, there is no doubting that.

They are a star studded outfit, all of which will be spurred on by the occasion, most notably their English contingent.

Everybody’s eyes however will be on one man, Jonny Wilkinson.

He will be returning to a ground on which he has had many happy days, coming up against the man billed by many to fill the famous England number 10 shirt he has left behind, Owen Farrell.

It should be a battle of seismic proportions between English rugby’s icemen.

Saracens will have to face the reality however that they could go in to the game without one of their most consistent performers, Will Fraser.

Man of the match, in the quarter-final against Ulster, he has been a stand out force in the Saracens side this season, rising to the challenge of filling the gap left by the injured Jacques Burger. A

task he has carried out better than anybody’s expectations, and one that has surely propelled himself into the thoughts of the end of season award’s nominee selectors.

If Fraser is unable to take to the field on Sunday, it will be a huge blow for everybody involved; his potential battle against Steffan Armitage is a mouth-watering prospect for the spectators, it would be a huge opportunity to firmly cement his place in the England management’s minds ahead of the summer and Saracens will miss his relentless work rate at the breakdown.

The buzz around Saracens at the moment is one of great excitement at what the future could hold.

This will be no different as fans from both teams descend on the home of English rugby, full of anticipation and hope, for what will hopefully be another day full of memories for the Men in Black.