CHRIS PILGRIM insists the Newcastle squad will be men on a mission at the J.P. Morgan Asset Management Premiership Rugby 7s Series final on Friday - out to break the Saracens stranglehold.

Sarries have proved themselves to be entirely unstoppable in the J.P. Morgan-sponsored competition, winning the inaugural 2010 tournament before securing their spot in Friday's final with an unbeaten display at the regional round last month.

Newcastle - and Pilgrim - experienced the Sarries dominance first-hand last year, bowing out to the North London outfit in the 2010 final.

And while fully aware there are four other teams gunning for the title besides the Falcons and Saracens, the 25-year-old believes the reigning Premiership champions will be the men to beat on Friday.

"Last year in the final Saracens proved to be a step too far for us so hopefully this year we can make it one step further and go and win it," said scrum-half Pilgrim.

"We'll definitely be going out hard for it and looking to win it and the squad is feeling good about it.

"We are using it as fitness and there will be a few guys in there with first team experience. It is an important night in terms of that fitness but every game we go into we want to win.

"We started off that first game at the regional round and we all got that competitive bug back and we're looking forward to the finals."

Before thinking about revenge meeting with Saracens, the Falcons squad will need to see off Harlequins and Wasps, with the top team from their mini-group of three progressing to the final.

Quins made light work of their rivals to win all three games at their qualifying round in Bath while Wasps finished second - with two wins - behind reigning champions Sarries.

And Pilgrim insists the team couldn't me more aware of the contrasting threats of their group opponents in south London.

"Both teams in our group Harlequins and Wasps look like good teams," he added.

"Quins look particularly sharp and look like they play some good Sevens while Wasps are always kind of abrasive and like to come at you in defence and put a bit of pressure on you so we have watched both of them and are aware of their strengths and their weaknesses so hopefully there'll be some good competition there."

Tickets for the final of the J.P. Morgan Asset Management Premiership Rugby 7s Series at the Twickenham Stoop are available through Ticketmaster www.ticketmaster.co.uk, on 0844 847 2492 or can be purchased at the ground on the night