RUGBY HEINEKEN CUP QUARTER-FINALS:Leicester v Bath, Today 6pm, Walker's Stadium Leicester, Live on Sky Sports 1

THREE YEARS have passed but Leicester still shudder when the words “Bath” and “Walker’s Stadium” feature in the same sentence.

At this same juncture in 2006 it seemed the perfect home from home for the Tigers, only to prove the lair from hell as Bath clung on for a remarkable victory.

Could this evening’s European quarter-final rematch possibly be as painful? The formbook would suggest not.

Leicester have rediscovered their mojo lately, winning six of their past seven games, while Bath’s defeat by Harlequins saw the home team abruptly unplugged. The two league games this season between tonight’s opponents were thrilling affairs decided in the final seconds, but the Tigers fielded only three and four players respectively from today’s starting line-up.

However, if the continued absence of Aaron Mauger is a blow, the current form of Sam Vesty makes it a relative one. Nor does Harry Ellis’ return at number nine make the Tigers any less combative, although the 22-year-old backrower Ben Pienaar has picked a big moment for his Heineken Cup debut.

Even with Martin Corry and Lewis Moody sidelined and Jordan Crane on the bench, Leicester’s acting coach Richard Cockerill remains adamant his side will not revert to old-school type.

“We want to play differently because we’ve got a world-class backline,” he said. “I just hope the occasion doesn’t stop us playing.”

As full throttle is the only way Bath know before their minds start to wander in the last quarter, a high-tempo contest awaits. The return of Michael Claassens will relieve Butch James of some pressure, but James’ goalkicking and judgment will still be paramount.

This would have been a perfect occasion for Matt Stevens, whose absence while he completes a two-year drug ban has diminished Bath’s off-loading fluency, but their head coach, Steve Meehan, cannot sit around crying. “We need to arrive at Leicester and play without fear,” Meehan said.

Guardian Service

LEICESTER:G Murphy (capt); S Hamilton, D Hipkiss, S Vesty, A Tuilagi; T Flood, H Ellis; M Ayerza, G Chuter, M Castrogiovanni, L Deacon, B Kay, T Croft, B Woods, B Pienaar. Replacements: M Davies, D Cole, J Crane, C Newby, J Dupuy, A Erinle, J Murphy.

BATH:N Abendanon; J Maddock, A Crockett, S Hape, M Banahan; B James, M Claassens; D Flatman, L Mears, D Bell, J Harrison, P Short, A Beattie, M Lipman (capt), J Faamatuainu. Replacements: R Hawkins, P Ion, S Hooper, J Scaysbrook, S Bemand, S Berne, A Higgins.

Referee:A Lewis (Ireland).

Heineken Cup Semi-finals (Potential venues – May 1st/2nd/3rd

(Matches played over one match)

Cardiff v Leicester/Bath Millennium Stadium, Cardiff

Toulouse v Leicester/Bath Municipal Stadium, Toulouse

Munster v Harlequins/Leinster Croke Park, Dublin

Ospreys v Harlequins/Leinster Millennium Stadium, Cardiff

Heineken Cup Final–Saturday, May 23rd, 5pm Murrayfield