Bristol are 'embracing the challenge' against Saracens this Saturday, says boss Pat Lam - despite never having won at the StoneX Stadium.

However, the last two meetings in north London have been settled by only one point and four-point wins for Sarries.

"It's just history, we've broken history a few times over the years and this is one we'd like to do," Lam told BBC Radio Bristol.

"All it emphasises is the difficulty of the challenge. It doesn't say it's not possible.

"You need belief and I believe we have that, but you also need to play as a team and we obviously need to be the best version of ourselves. If we do that then we've got a chance. "

Bristol travel to London off the back of four consecutive defeats, including an agonising one-point loss to neighbours Bath last Friday.

By contrast, defending champions Saracens have seen their campaign kick-started since the return of their internationals following the World Cup, winning their past three games.

At home, they have only lost twice since returning to the top flight in 2021, although one of those defeats was a 25-16 loss to Bath last month.

"On paper it's the game you want. These are the challenges that you want, you want to embrace these," Lam added.

"We probably should have been the only team beating them last year, I think we were two scores up with about five minutes to go and we blew that game ourselves at the end.

"We know what a class team they are, they were outstanding away to Harlequins. It's a huge challenge, because history says we don't win there. so it's one that we're embracing."

'A big loss'

Lam, however, confirmed that fly-half AJ MacGinty will be out for at least three more months after having surgery on a hamstring injury he suffered in the first half of the opening league game this season, against Leicester.

"AJ had surgery on the hamstring, he tore that off the bone in the first game at Leicester, so we're not expecting to see AJ until after February," Lam said.

"Obviously that was a big loss with him missing."