"It will be a miracle if we make it through," said Fran-cois Pienaar, the Saracens' director."
The win over Toulouse, the former European champions, owed much to the return of Australian Duncan McRae at fly-half following a five-game 35-day absence after his ribs were cracked in the clash with England captain Martin Johnson.
McRae decided last Wednesday that he would try to return against Toulouse because Saracens were simply not firing.
He knew he would need some cover from his team-mates because he was not fully match fit and that tackling and being tackled might present problems.
"I was jumping out of my skin to play because of the way we were tumbling down the Premiership," said McRae.
"To get a win was the most important thing. I was a bit short of a gallop, but a win takes the pain away. There is no doubt there was pressure from our supporters but they know when we get our top side that we will be a team to be reckoned with."
McRae scored 17 points and now heads to Belfast expecting a tight game. So does England flanker Richard Hill who is back with Saracens after a foot injury.
"Pride is going to be such a big factor between two professional sides," said Hill.
Wasps caused the first upset for ambitious Swansea by beating them 28-16 at Loftus Road. The Welsh side now have to go to Paris this weekend and beat Stade Francais.
Paul Sampson scored two tries for Wasps, whose final European game is against L'Aquila on Sunday.
In the European Shield ,Harlequins have to beat Ebbw Vale at the Stoop ground on Saturday.
London Irish not only have to beat Piacenza at the Madejski Stadium on Sunday but hope that Brive, who beat them 37-27 yesterday,will lose to Aurillac. If Brive win that, the Irish are out.
