Pool Six: Toulouse v Leinster Stade Ernest Wallon Tomorrow, 8pm On TV: Sky Sports 2:The feeling persisted in the build-up to their opening win over Leicester last weekend that it might have been a good time to be facing the English champions.
Similarly, while the best time to play Toulouse on their own patch in the South of France is arguably never, it's just possible this might not be the worst time to be facing the French standardbearers either.
Still searching for the optimum blend, Guy Noves has made half a dozen changes to the team that eked out a 19-15 win away to Edinburgh, an effort the Leinster coach Michael Cheika knows not to take at face value.
"I've been keeping an eye on the French media during the week, and they seem to have regarded that game as almost a friendly - that their Heineken Cup starts now," he said.
Certainly the recall of World Cup players Cedric Heymans, Fabien Pelous, Jean-Baptiste Poux (albeit at tighthead rather than his customary loosehead) and their summer signing at number eight from Stade Français,Shaun Sowerby, would seem to signify as much.
Yet there remains a big question about their choice at outhalf, Valentin Courrent. By inclination more of a scrumhalf, he returned to France from Sale last season to fulfil the same role, back-up number nine, but Noves was sufficiently impressed by Courrent in the 28-9 win at home to Stade Français two weeks ago to opt for him here.
Toulouse will also have the motivation of their 41-35 quarter-final defeat at home to Leinster two years ago. Leinster won that game, as they can any game, because they can score tries more readily than most. Of course, as pertinent will be how their set-pieces and defence hold up. Up to now, the signs have been distinctly encouraging in both departments.
The Toulouse scrum would not be regarded as the most potent in French rugby; without wishing to tempt fate, for them it is a means of restarting the game. But their maul can be very potent and here the examination for Leinster is liable to be every bit as intense as against Leicester. And if the Toulouse maul gets rumbling, it will generate a feverish response from most of the 19,000-plus crowd.
Toulouse will play with vastly more width than Leicester and bring to the party their World Cup outside three of Vincent Clerc, Clement Poitrenaud and the recalled Cedric Heymans, a potent brew if given a whiff of a counterattack or a turnover. So Leinster will have to defend all over the pitch.
They will look up and see a back line standing deeper and wider, with a willingness to offload in contact and put runners behind the initial line. In this, their creative genius is Yannick Jauzion who, no less than his counterpart Gordon D'Arcy, is coming off a relatively disappointing World Cup.
If Toulouse don't get away early, Leinster have a chance, but either way it should be a high-scoring bit of fun.
TOULOUSE: C Poitrenaud; V Clerc, Y Jauzion (capt), M Kunavore, C Heymans; V Courrent, J Elissalde; D Human, W Servat, J Poux; F Pelous, P Albacete; Y Nyanga, T Dusautoir, S Sowerby. Replacements: A Vernet Basualdo, O Hasan, R Millo-Chlusky, G Lamboley, B Kelleher, F Fritz, F Maka.
LEINSTER: G Dempsey; S Horgan, B O'Driscoll (capt), G D'Arcy, R Kearney; F Contepomi, C Whitaker; A Le Roux, B Jackman, S Wright; L Cullen, M O'Kelly; S Jennings, K Gleeson, J Heaslip. Replacements: B Blaney, J Gomez, C Jowitt, K McLaughlin, C Willis, C Warner, L Fitzgerald.
Referee: Chris White (England)
Previous meetings: (1997-98) Leinster 24 Toulouse 34; Toulouse 38 Leinster 19. (2001-02) Leinster 40 Toulouse 10; Toulouse 43 Leinster 7. (2005-06) Toulouse 35 Leinster 41.
Formguide: Toulouse - W W W. Leinster - W W L L D W W.
Betting (Paddy Power): 2/9 Toulouse, 25/1 Draw, 3/1 Leinster. Handicap odds(= Leinster +10pts) 10/11 Toulouse, 22/1 Draw, 10/11 Leinster.
Forecast: Toulouse to win.
