Saracens centre Kevin Sorrell, with nearly 300 club appearances to his name, has made a timely return from injury ahead of what he describes as the 'most exciting' few weeks in the club's history.

The North London club travels to the Millennium Stadium to face the Ospreys in the EDF Energy Cup semi-finals on Saturday and two weeks later Saracens will host the Welsh glamour side in the quarter-finals of the Heineken Cup at Vicarage Road. In between the two finals is a vital Guinness Premiership clash against Leeds Carnegie at home with Saracens looking to maintain a challenge on all three fronts.

"The next few weeks are the most exciting in the club's history," said the 31-year-old Sorrell after getting 60 minutes of action under his belt in Saracens 40-17 Guinness A-League victory over Bristol on Monday night, following two months out with an ankle injury. "They are huge matches and the carrot waiting for us on Saturday is a place in a cup final.

"It's been 10 years since the club has made a final appearance and I remember the fantastic atmosphere around the club in 1998 when we made it to the Tetley Bitter Cup final - I want to repeat that excitement and we have the chance to do that this weekend."

Sorrell joined Saracens in 1995 and although he wasn't part of the match day team which lifted the trophy 10 years ago, he certainly doesn't want to miss out again this year, and has shaken off the ankle injury just in time.

"It's taken longer than I'd hoped to get back," he explained.

"The early prognosis was four weeks and I was on course for that but I broke down when I got back in training which pushed things back a few weeks. But it's great to be back on the pitch once again. I felt a bit rusty on Monday night and the main thing was I came through unscathed and the ankle held up.

"I had in my mind of getting back into action this week to be ready for what is a massive game at the weekend. I've ticked that box and hopefully done enough to be involved in Cardiff on Saturday."