Leicester v Stade Francais:Geordan Murphy has underlined Leicester's degree of difficulty in chasing an unprecedented trophy treble, declaring: "It is like climbing Everest." For a second successive season, Tigers have arrived at the business end of a marathon campaign still in contention to win three competitions.
But they also know how quickly those dreams can be shattered.
Leicester reached the Heineken European Cup quarter-finals, Anglo-Welsh semi-finals and Guinness Premiership final last term, yet ended up with nothing.
A place in next month's EDF Energy Cup final against the Ospreys already booked, Leicester are also firmly on course for a home Premiership play-off tie, but their entire focus this weekend is the Welford Road visit of French Championship leaders Stade Français.
Sunday's quarter-final showdown is the eighth European Cup meeting between two teams whose tournament rivalry began in 1999.
Stade lead the series 4-3, but they will arrive in the east midlands of England without a handful of key players, including injured forwards Sylvain Marconnet, Dimitri Szarzewski and David Auradou, plus suspended Italian Test flanker Mauro Bergamasco.
It remains a tough ask for Leicester to progress, though, which would not only keep alive the treble ambition, but take them another step closer towards landing silverware of any description for the first time since 2002.
As for the treble, Tigers full-back and Ireland international Murphy said: "It is possible, but the players are not talking about it. We are not looking that far ahead yet.
"It is like climbing Everest - it can be done, but it's very tough.
"Sale threw everything at us last week in the EDF semi-final, and it was good preparation for us, but we didn't play to our full potential and we will have to step up another level on Sunday.
"Stade are a tremendous team, and they won't come here with any fear because they have done well against us in the past. We know we will lose if we don't play at our best.
"Winning the competition in 2001 (Leicester beat Stade in the final) is one of my favourite rugby memories.
"It was a great day that I will never forget, and I would love to experience it again."
Leicester's hopes could be hit by the possible absence of skipper Martin Corry, who faces a late fitness test on the elbow he injured playing against Millennium Stadium opponents Sale last Saturday.
If Corry is ruled out, then Brett Deacon will move off the replacements' bench to start at number eight, with Henry Tuilagi joining the replacements.
Leicester Tigers head coach Pat Howard said: "Martin is an important part of our plans, and we will give him time over the next 48 hours to prove he is ready to play his part."
Elsewhere, Andy Goode wins the vote at outhalf, while Seru Rabeni returns after recovering from a calf muscle problem to replace Tom Varndell and Italy prop Martin Castrogiovanni features on the bench following a knee injury suffered during the recent RBS Six Nations Championship.
LEICESTER: G Murphy; S Rabeni, D Hipkiss, D Gibson, A Tuilagi; A Goode, H Ellis; M Ayerza, G Chuter, J White, L Deacon, B Kay, L Moody, S Jennings, M Corry. Replacements: G Hickie, M Castrogiovanni, L Cullen, B Deacon, F Murphy, I Humphreys, T Varndell.
STADE FRANÇAIS: JM Hernandez; J Arias, S Glas, B Liebenberg, C Dominici; D Skrela, A Pichot; R Roncero, B Kayser, P de Villiers, B du Plooy, M James, P Rabadan, R Martin, S Parisse. Replacements: M Blin, J Gomez, A Marchois, A Bourbon, J Fillol, L Beauxis, Mirco Bergamasco.
Tomorrow, Welford Road
Kick-Off - 3.30
On TV - Sky Sports 3
