Leeds Carnegie head coach Neil Back has paid tribute to the side’s fans as the Headingley outfit look to defy the odds and remain in the Guinness Premiership for next season (8/11 To Finish Bottom).

Leeds have given their survival chances a shot in the arm with back-to-back wins against Sale Sharks (11/2 To Finish Bottom) and London Wasps ahead of the visit of Saracens this weekend.

The Men in Black edged the league meeting between the sides at Vicarage Road back in October, but Carnegie will be confident ahead of Sunday’s return.

And England World Cup 2003 winner Back believes his side can pull off another ‘Great Escape’ act as they bid to end their yo-yo status.

He told the BBC: “If we continue to play like that we are going to challenge and put pressure on anyone and we should get the results we need to achieve our objectives this year.

“This victory was not just about the 23 involved today, it’s about the whole squad and I’m very proud of the whole squad.

“The guys outside the 23 are the ones that really contribute to our success, and continue to, and they need to for the rest of the season. They work hard in training and all keep the standards very high at the club.

“I have to fight back the tears. I am an emotional guy and I don’t let many people see that. It was an extremely proud moment for the whole management team and the whole squad today.

“The fans have always been fantastic. They haven’t been great in number, but they’ve always been very passionate, very loyal to us and gave us tremendous support and that was the case again today.”