Biarritz can ‘knock Toulouse out of their stride’
But the former Gloucester scrum-half also believes it would be dangerous to write off his team, who ended Llanelli's European campaign with an outstanding quarter-final victory at Stradey Park two weeks ago.
And Biarritz, a disciplined and organised outfit expertly coached by the highly-rated Patrice Lagisquet, know they possess sufficient quality to knock Toulouse out of their stride on neutral territory at Stade Chaban-Delmas in Bordeaux.
"We don't care who the opposition is this is a Heineken Cup semi-final, and it's there to be won," said Yachvili.
"Toulouse have many strengths. They are strong up front, they have speed behind, they are very well organised and they move the ball very quickly. It means we will have to be disciplined and take our game to them.
"We have beaten Toulouse once this year the return match is the week after the semi-final and we know them well. But they are used to semi-finals and finals, they have more experience.
"We are ready for the match though. It's the Heineken Cup semi-final, so desire and motivation are there."
Biarritz will take heart from knowing Toulouse have proved vulnerable semi-finalists on three previous occasions, falling at the penultimate hurdle in 1997, 1998 and 2000.
But, such is the quality throughout their team, Toulouse should have too much class and will be expected to book their place in the May 23 Twickenham final.
"It's going to be a huge occasion, but if we lose, the adventure stops here," said Toulouse fly-half Yann Delaigue. "It doesn't matter whether we are playing another French team or anyone else, we have to win.
"This is my last season at Toulouse I am going to Castres next season so I would like this season to end in the best possible way. As far as I'm concerned, there is a huge desire to win the Heineken Cup again.
"Biarritz's main strength is the way in which they adapt their game so well to whoever they are playing, and matches against them are always difficult.
There is never one team who consistently beats the other every season is equal where results are concerned so I think it's 50/50 for Saturday."
Toulouse have injury doubts surrounding centre Emile Ntamack and scrum-half Frederic Michalak. Ntamack has a leg injury, while Michalak is nursing an ankle problem, meaning that Cedric Desbrosse and Sylvain Dupuy are on stand-by.
Biarritz are without centre John Isaac.
: C Poitrenaud; V Clerc, E Ntamack/C Desbrosse, Y Jauzion, C Heymans; Y Delaigue, F Michalak/S Dupuy; P Collazo, W Servat, J-B Poux, F Pelous, D Gerard, J Bouilhou, F Maka, C Labit.
Replacements: Y Bru, J Fiorini, R Millochlusky, I Maka, T Brennan, M. De Paolis, C Desbrosse.
: N. Brusque; P. Bidabe, M. Gaitan, T. Lacroix, J. Marlu; J. Peyrelongue, D. Yachvili; P. Balan, J. Gonzalez, D Avril, H Manent, D Couzinet, S. Betsen, O. Tonita, T. Lievremont (capt).
Replacements: J Campo, M Fitzgerald, S Puleoto, O Nauroy, D Chouchan, L Mazas, P Bernat-Salles.
: Tony Spreadbury (England).
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