Tigers can take third title- Back

England World Cup star Neil Back believes that Leicester are good enough to land an unprecedented third European title in four seasons.

The Tigers, despite misfiring badly at domestic level this term, gave themselves a Heineken Cup lifeline by crushing Pool One rivals Ulster 49-7 last weekend.

Victories in their final two group games – against Gwent Dragons tomorrow and French champions Stade Francais next Friday night – should secure quarter-final status.

And that would put Leicester on course to emulate Heineken Cup successes of 2001 and 2002, despite a stuttering start on the European stage that saw away defeats at Stade and Ulster.

“Our targets haven’t really changed from the start of the season,” said Tigers skipper Back.

“Winning in Europe was always right up there and we knew it would be difficult, as it has proved. Now we have the opportunity to make a big statement. Do I think we can win it? Emphatically yes.

“We’ve not really managed to string together any back-to-back results this season, but the Gwent game is a great chance to put that right.”

European warrior Back will make his 41st Heineken Cup appearance at Rodney Parade tomorrow, just five behind Tigers’ most experienced campaigner Graham Rowntree.

He added: “The Heineken Cup gives a different challenge, both mentally and physically.

“It is a very demanding tournament, but it’s the ultimate test for northern hemisphere players at club level.

“It’s a tough task for Leicester. I’ve been to three finals and won two of them, so I know what it takes, and I still believe we have enough to win it.”

All eight games in Pool One so far have been won by the home team, but an away-day success tomorrow would give Leicester a potentially decisive edge.

“Mentally, we have to get it right, especially this thing of winning away from home,” Back said.

“We have to try and instil the same sort of feeling for away matches as we have for the home games, which isn’t always easy, given the tremendous support we get at Welford Road.

“This season has been unfamiliar for both the fans and the players and it’s been backs to the wall at times, but Gwent away represents the next challenge to us.”

Gloucester saw their sizeable advantage at the top of Pool Five wiped out by rivals Munster in Limerick last Saturday, so victory is essential when they visit a Bourgoin side coached by former Cherry and Whites rugby director Philippe Saint-Andre tomorrow.

Bourgoin are one of the less formidable French sides on home soil – as previous Heineken Cup defeats against Harlequins, Munster, Wasps and Llanelli testify – and they have already been eliminated this season.

But Saint-Andre, who is understood to have applied for the vacant Wales coaching job, will relish a chance to shunt Gloucester off their quarter-final course.

Northampton are also in France, facing Pool Four hosts Agen tonight, knowing that a defeat will hand Llanelli control of the group, assuming they defeat Stradey Park visitors the Borders.

Agen still harbour quarter-final hopes and have lost just one of their last 53 home games, so Saints can expect a torrid time.

“It looks like we need to win both our remaining games, with a bonus point each time, in order to finish top of the pool,” said Agen centre Conrad Stolz.

Saints coach Wayne Smith added: “No-one is expecting us to go over there and deal with their pack – they are saying we will get munched up and we know we have to win that battle up-front.”

Llanelli will target tries – and plenty of them – against the Borders, who have the worst record of all 24 teams in this season’s Heineken Cup competition.

The Scarlets welcome back centre Leigh Davies following a lengthy injury absence, while wing Garan Evans switches to full-back instead of Barry Davies.

In total contrast to the Borders’ miserable struggle, Edinburgh will make Scottish rugby history if they beat Meadowbank visitors Neath-Swansea Ospreys tonight and Toulouse come unstuck at Leeds on Sunday and do not collect a losing bonus point.

No Scottish team has ever reached the Heineken Cup knock-out stages, but that significant prize now stands tantalisingly close for coach Frank Hadden and his unbeaten Pool Two leaders.

Celtic Warriors coach Lynn Howells admits that it is “make or break time” for his team in tonight’s Pool Six encounter with Perpignan at the Brewery Field.

Warriors must win their last two games – against Perpignan and Calvisano – and then rely on other results working for them in terms of reaching the quarter-finals.

“It is a must-win game for us – it’s a massive match,” said Howells.

“The bottom line is that we have to beat Perpignan, or we are out.”

Wales lock Robert Sidoli, who missed the 17-12 home defeat against Wasps six days ago, is set to return from injury, with the Warriors expecting another bumper crowd following a 10,000 sell-out last week.

Leinster, meanwhile, in pole position to top Pool Three following a priceless away win against Sale Sharks, should encounter few problems against Cardiff Blues at Lansdowne Road tonight.

Tomorrow’s other Heineken Cup action is in Paris, where Stade Francais entertain Ulster, and Munster – minus injured prop Marcus Horan – visit Treviso.