JOE El Abd has tasted victory for the first time as Bristol captain – now he wants to get used to the feeling.

The popular flanker was handed the captaincy when Matt Salter stepped down over the summer, but tasted defeat in his first five matches as skipper.

He broke that run when Toulon were beaten 39-11 at the Memorial Stadium in his last outing two weeks ago, prompting head coach Richard Hill to say: "I am just really pleased for Joe El Abd – he has put so much work in both on and off the field, and is desperate for this club to do well."

El Abd and Bristol's other big guns will return to the side for tomorrow's EDF Energy Cup pool finale against Saracens having been rested for last week's 27-0 defeat at Llanelli.

And, with one win in the bag, the 28-year-old is keen to build momentum ahead of Bristol's return to the Guinness Premiership against Northampton on November 16.

"The confidence is high at the moment and we will be looking to put in a good performance again against Saracens this weekend," said El Abd.

"I don't like losing as a player and as a captain, so I did feel a bit of weight when we weren't winning. But it was fantastic to finally get the victory – and now we'll be looking to build on that with another one this weekend.

"We're looking to continue our development from the Toulon game and build confidence, which we can take back into the Premiership over the next few weeks. We know every game in the Premiership is crucial, and Northampton being the first game back after a bit of a break means it does take on a bit more significance.

"We need to concentrate on this weekend first, though, and build on the performance we had last time out. If we can do that, we'll be moving in the right direction."

But El Abd knows his side face a difficult task against Saracens. The big-spending Watford-based club have won their last three matches in all competitions, and before an EDF Energy Cup defeat against Scarlets four weeks ago had won their previous three Premiership games.

"This will, without a doubt, be a meaningful test," said El Abd. "Saracens are one of the top sides in English rugby, if not in European rugby, and they will certainly come out looking for the victory to take them into the next round.

"We know it's a long season and we have to keep a level head throughout all the competitions we play in, but it is always nice to get a victory and we are looking to do that this weekend.

"This break from the Premiership has allowed us to develop our game, train hard and try to improve aspects of our game we weren't happy with – and we have definitely managed to do that on the training pitch. We showed some of that on the pitch against Toulon and will be looking to do that again against Saracens on Saturday."

Bristol (from): Backs – V Lilo, M Turner, T Arscott, D Lemi, N Brew, L Eves, E Barnes, A Jarvis, G Beveridge, H Thomas.

Forwards – A Clarke, D Crompton, J Hobson, S Linklater, M Regan, N Budgett, R Sidoli, R Winters, J El Abd (capt), R Pennycook, M Salter, D Ward-Smith.