Bath won the Heineken Cup in 1998, Harlequins have twice lifted the European Challenge Cup and Montpellier, who drew with Toulouse in the French championship a few weeks ago, have a declared budget of 7 million, about three times what Connacht have at their disposal. Connacht, the only team in the Magners League not to have played in the Heineken Cup, have thrived in the European Challenge Cup over the past decade or so, winning 32 of their 65 games to date.

They became the first Irish province to win a competitive match on French soil when they defeated Begles Bordeaux 15-9 in the 1997/98 season. Five more wins in Narbonne, Beziers, Montpellier, Mont de Marsan and Grenoble have ensured a healthy respect for Connacht in France. Pau, backboned by Damien Traille and Imanol Hardinordoquy, were turned over as well a few years back but if Connacht have thrived as an unknown force, that is set to change.

The lack of familiarity with teams they have met in the European Challenge Cup has helped them in two ways , , they have not been daunted or weighed down by the baggage of history that, say, accompanies them into games against the Irish provinces, while opponents treat them for what they are rather than what they are supposed to be.

The net result over the past four years has been qualification twice for the semi-finals and the quarterfinals. Significantly, their run in the past three years has been stopped by English opposition with Harlequins, Sale Sharks, and Newcastle Falcons putting paid to their chances.

Connacht coach, Michael Bradley, recognises the challenge of a group with twop English sides.

"It is a tough group but that is all the more reason we need to produce performances of high quality. It will be unusual having two English sides in the pool but we are quite familiar with the standard required to compete and, hopefully, overcome the challenges, " he said.

This will be the third year that Connacht have faced Montpellier, while three years ago Connacht went down by just four points on aggregate at the semi-final stage to Harlequins, defeating them in the second leg at a packedSportsground by 23-18.

"Each of the four sides in this pool realise it will be tough to get out of. Teams will take points off each other.

In many ways, it is a very exciting pool. What we have to do is concentrate on our own form and results. We cannot get distracted by what is happening elsewhere.

For us, it is Harlequins at home on Friday night, everything else will look after itself, " added Bradley.

Connacht go into this campaign with a fairly settled side, with minimal activity on the transfer front during the summer. New signings Brett Wilkinson, Adrian Flavin and Ray Ofisa have settled in well.

But it is the progress of so many home-grown players which has given most cause for optimism. Emerging Irish talent, such as Keith Matthews, Michael Diffley, John Hearty and David Gannon continue to prosper, while Danny Riordan, a product of Colaiste Iognaid and Corinthians RFC, has been a revelation at full-back this season.

Captain John Fogarty was one seven Connacht players to play in Churchill Cup this summer for Ireland and goes into this campaign with confidence. "It is a pool with quality teams, every bit as good as a Heineken Cup group, so it is a great opportunity for us to make our mark, " he said.