Long before Munster headed home from Bristol on Sunday, players and management knew that unless this is a tough week of soul-searching and preparation then their Champions Cup campaign will be unhinged over the next two weekends by in-form Leicester Tigers.

Crusaders 7 England 38

Leicester captain Ed Slater refuses to cast his Tigers as underdogs when they challenge Clermont’s supremacy at the Stade Marcel Michelin today.

Leicester 19 Ulster 22

Leicester's disappointing European campaign came to an end with a comfortable but far from convincing 33-6 win over a battling Aironi at Welford Road.

OPINION was divided afterwards, more or less along lines of partiality.

Leinster 17 Leicester 10

Leicester Tigers 37 Leinster 14, Welford Road

Ireland international Geordan Murphy will captain Leicester Tigers from full-back against Leinster in a pre-season friendly at Welford Road in Friday night.