Leinster hope for dry run

European Cup/Treviso v Leinster: Piazza San Marco in Venice was flooded last week so the Leinster squad can be at least grateful their arrival in neighbouring Treviso wasn't greeted by leaden skies. The last thing the Irish province would like is sodden under-foot conditions at Stadio Comunale di Monigo tomorrow when they open this season's Heineken European Cup campaign against Benetton Treviso.

As Munster discovered last season the Italians possess a beefy uncompromising pack; Leinster want a decent day to pursue their game plan. Those hopes could be realised if the local forecast is to be believed as a dry afternoon with temperatures reaching 19 or 20 degrees is predicted.

Leinster will find a Benetton Treviso team in good form. They have won all seven outings to date in the Italian Championship including victory over the Calvisano, who will also play in this season's European Cup. Indeed their last defeat in an Italian fixture was the middle of last season. Former New Zealand wing and Treviso coach Craig Green is realistic when he outlines his team's parameters for improvement in Europe.

"We know we have to raise our performance by about 20 or 30 per cent but we have shown in the past we can beat the bigger teams."

French side Bourgoin - they are in Treviso's pool again - found that to their cost last season when they were well beaten at Saturday's venue. Indeed the Italian champions have won 11 of their 36 games in the European Cup to date.

Green identified a need for more bulk in the second row and to this end has imported a couple of South Africa-born players, Marco Wentzel and Gerhard Klerck. The latter has played international rugby for the USA.

Green admitted: "We know we have suffered a bit up front in the past and the club has made a real effort in bringing in some new players to try and make us more competitive in the forwards. We now have a couple of South African-born locks and Klerck will also add considerable experience as he has played Test rugby for the USA Eagles.

"However, we have also been introducing some young players and the way they have performed has been a real bonus for us. I would like to see us start doing a bit better in the tournament. One more result would be good because we are not losing our heads and talking about getting to the knock-out stages or anything like that."

Last season Treviso made life very difficult for Munster in Italy for 60 minutes before succumbing. Afterwards the Italian players spoke of their enjoyment of the occasion: almost 4,000 Munster supporters travelled to game and the 5,500 crowd marked the biggest attendance for a Treviso game in Europe.

Green, presiding over a squad that includes a dozen Italian international including former Azzurri captain Alessandro Troncon, is aware of the task his side faces on Saturday, conceding: "Leinster have many fine players, some of them world class, but we always want to try to compete against the best - and Leinster are certainly one of the best in Europe.

"It is a great game for us to start with. I am happy it is a home match and also that we expect a lot of their supporters to make the trip, which is good for the club and good for rugby in the area."

It's doubtful Leinster supporters will fulfil his wish as not much more than 100 are expected to make the journey to Italy.

A Leinster squad of 24 players arrived in Treviso last night as coach Declan Kidney waited on the fitness of flanker Eric Miller. Des Dillon is on stand by. As is the case for most teams travelling away from home these days, an extra back, in the form of Kieran Lewis made the journey in case of any last minute injuries.

The players are expected to enjoy a tour of Venice today following a captain's run out.