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Leinster head coach Leo Cullen wary of impressive Saracens

Follow all of the action on the Sky Sports app and skysports.com with our dedicated European Champions Cup final live blog

Leo Cullen
Image: Leinster head coach Leo Cullen knows Saracens pose a threat in all departments

Head coach Leo Cullen says Leinster are not concentrated on the record that will await them if they beat Saracens in Saturday's Heineken Champions Cup final.

A Leinster victory at St James' Park in Newcastle would see them crowned European champions for a record fifth time, surpassing the current best they jointly hold with Toulouse.

Leinster were the last team to defeat Saracens on a European stage, knocking them out in the quarter-finals 13 months ago.

But the English heavyweights have marched through this season's tournament unbeaten, and Cullen is well aware how big a task his players face.

Leinster and Saracens faced each other in the quarter-finals last year at the Aviva Stadium
Image: Leinster and Saracens faced each other in the quarter-finals last year in Dublin

"We are playing against a team that has been at this stage over the course of the last few seasons and has so much threat from numbers one to 23," he said.

"It is trying to understand what we are actually going to face, what it is going to be like for us, what type of plan do we need to try and unlock what their strengths are.

"It's trying to pull it all together.

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"It is going to be an amazing occasion with two very, very good teams, and it's a great stadium here as well, so it is all set.

"It [record] is there in the background, but it is not something we have focused too much attention on."

Cullen has named an unchanged team from the semi-final victory over Toulouse last month.

Sean Cronin scored during Leinster's victory
Image: Sean Cronin is back for Leinster after overcoming a calf injury

Hooker Sean Cronin makes a first appearance since that game after recovering from a calf muscle injury, while two switches on the bench see opportunities for forwards Jack McGrath and Rhys Ruddock.

Leinster captain Johnny Sexton said: "We've had a proper good look at them [Saracens] and analysed them a lot. They are everything that we thought they were going to be.

"It is going to be very tough for us, but we are up for the challenge.

Jonathan Sexton (L) and Rob Kearney celebrate after the Heineken Champions Cup Semi-Final
Image: Johnny Sexton says Leinster are well-prepared to face Saracens

"We will take confidence from coming through a tough pool, some of the challenges we've faced along the way - Ulster, Toulouse - and we will take confidence from winning the trophy last year.

"But, really, it comes down to on the day and who plays the best on the day. We need to just go out there and play the best we can, and see where that gets us."

How can I follow Champions Cup final?

You can follow all of the action from St James' Park on the Sky Sports app and skysports.com with our dedicated European Champions Cup final live blog, which will feature the best build-up, commentary and reaction from Newcastle.

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