Clermont record not Tigers’ focus

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

The rivals clash for a place in the Heineken Cup semi-finals, where either Ulster or Saracens await.

Also at stake is Clermont’s intimidating home record of having amassed 74 successive victories in all competitions in a triumphant sequence dating back to November 2009.

Slater admits such a formidable run is impossible to ignore, but insists the prize of claiming a place in the last four of the Heineken Cup is a greater incentive than makinghistory.

“Everybody’s been talking about their record and how long it’s been going for. The players are aware of it,” Slater said.

“The win itself will be huge because it’s the quarter-finals of the Heineken Cup. That’s the biggest incentive — you can’t get too wrapped up in that home record.

“I wouldn’t say we’ve got nothing to lose going over there and there’s no pressure. We have everything to play for.”

CLERMONT: J-M Buttin; N Nakaitaci, A Rougerie (capt), W Fofana, N Nalaga; B James, M Parra; T Domingo, B Kayser, D Zirakashvili, J Cudmore, N Hines, J Bonnaire, D Chouly, F Lee.

Replacements: T Paulo, V Debaty, C Ric, J Pierre, A Lapandry, T Lacrampe, M Delany, B Stanley.

LEICESTER: M Tait; B Scully, M Tuilagi, A Allen, V Goneva; O Williams, B Youngs; M Ayerza, T Youngs, L Mulipola, L Deacon, E Slater (capt), J Gibson, J Salvi, J Crane.

Replacements: R Hawkins, B Stankovich, F Balmain, G Kitchener, T Waldrom, D Mele, T Flood, S Hamilton.

Referee: Alain Rolland (Ireland).