Wasps have been challenged to launch a new dynasty of European success when they face Toulon in their Champions Cup quarter-final today.

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Mission impossible confronts the Premiership underdogs on the Cote d’Azur where the star-studded champions are plotting their route to an unprecedented third successive title.

Losing wings Christian Wade and Sailosi Tagicakibau to hamstring injuries and powerful number eight Nathan Hughes to suspension has only heightened the sense that Wasps’ return to the knockout stages will end in France.

But director of rugby Dai Young insists they are capable of stunning Toulon, evoking the club’s European glory days of last decade while declaring it is time for the new generation to leave their calling card on the continent.

“We’re very proud and respectful for the club’s history and tradition, but we have a determined group now who want to start making their own mark,” Young said.

“We want people to be talking about this Wasps team rather than referring back to the other guys all the time. No one expected us to get out of the group, so in a lot of people’s eyes this is a shot to nothing.”

Captain James Haskell, who returns to the back row after being rested against Northampton last weekend, insists Wasps are in familiar territory.

He said: “We are underdogs against Toulon because of their pedigree, but I firmly believe we have the ability to get a result down there.”

Today’s second quarter-final sees last season’s runners-up Saracens visit Racing Metro with scrumhalf Richard Wigglesworth leading the team in the injury enforced absence of lock Alistair Hargreaves, partnering Charlie Hodgson at half-back.

Saracens are unbeaten in their last five matches and have only lost one game in their last nine. Their French opponents were the only unbeaten club in the pool stages, coming out of their group with Northampton Saints, the Ospreys and Benetton Treviso with 24 points thanks to five wins and just one draw.

“We are in very good spirits,” said Saracens director of rugby Mark McCall. “We have watched Racing a lot over the last week, especially their win at Franklin’s Gardens, and they were very good that day.”