Over the past five seasons they've been landed in pools with Wasps and Stade Francais (2001/02), Northampton and Biarritz (2002/03), Stade Francais and Leicester (2003/04), Gloucester and Stade Francais (2004/05) and Biarritz and Saracens last season. And this time?

While their billing as of the top Irish qualifier had them out of the hat first in Pool 5, Toulouse, London Irish and Llanelli all followed them into it. In many ways it's a more difficult grouping than they've had to put up with when they were Ireland's third seeds.

"We've never really complained about the draw, " says a quietly-spoken Simon Best, "I suppose you take what you're given. There are a lot of very tough teams in the pool, even though we were the top Irish seeds this time around. We know a lot about Toulouse from previous years, they probably know a bit about us too, and how difficult it is to play in Belfast.

But it's important that we start well this year, especially because of the pool, and it's a game we'll be looking to win."

You wouldn't bet against them doing it either, especially when you consider they've beaten Wasps, Stade Francais, Biarritz and Leicester at fortress Ravenhill over the past few seasons. But even if they were to turn Guy Noves's out-of-form team over in Belfast, they can't afford to snooze. "London Irish were in great form last year and they've started this season positively, " says Best.

"We have a potential for two very big games there, back to back in December. As for Llannelli, we've been much for much against them in the Magners League over the past few years. They have a new coaching team this year, which has made them change their style a little. Stephen Jones has also come back in for them and they're particularly strong in the centre."

Which is something that can also be said of Ulster.

Since Paddy Wallace emerged from the land where Mark McCall forgot at the end of last season, Ulster have looked ultra-sharp and hugely inventive in midfield.

Wallace hasn't quite been allocated a regular number 13 to play alongside just yet, but whether Andrew Trimble or Paul Steinmetz get the nod, the midfield area is sure to be the launching pad for much of Ulster's attacking ideas this season. But players and tactics to one side for a moment, you get the feeling that Ulster's main problem in Europe over the past few seasons is on the mental side of things, namely their inability to beat the serious teams away from home. They've only won two of their last 14 games on their travels in the Heineken Cup and that sorry statistic needs to change.

"It's Mark and Alan's [Clarke] third year now and the backbone of the squad have been there throughout, " comments Best. "We've recruited more from within rather than bringing in any big names and the guys who've come through the ranks are now starting to mature. Last year we developed a winning mentality away from home in the Magners League, which is something we didn't really have before so that's a positive.

But it's now important that we take that form into the European Cup where away games are so crucial. We're known as a good home team and that's put a bit of weight on our shoulders in that sense that we seem to travel away and go into our shells a little bit. We have a massive travelling support now, which is constantly growing, and I'm sure they'll make a difference to us down in Toulouse, in London and over in Stradey.

We know from the past that simply winning our home games isn't enough. You've got to look to win your home games, sure, but we know that our away games are going to need as much focus, if not more."

It's easy to talk, but we'll see the proof of the pudding in the coming weeks. While they may be in a tight pool, one where everybody is capable of beating everybody else, Ulster's advancement hopes will boil down to their ability to win an away game at either London Irish or Llanelli. The Madejski Stadium and Stradey Park are hardly intimidating venues in the European context of the word and, providing they win their three home fixtures, a single victory away from home could be enough to put them in serious contention to top the pool. Then again, if history repeats itself and Ulster fail to get their game together away from home, they could find themselves propping up the rest of Pool 5. It's so tight, it could genuinely go either way.