Leicester's punishment was light for they won both games.

In the match at Wasps they produced one of their best away victories of the season and Humphreys was outstanding. "It was very important for my confidence, " he said. "I thought maybe I am good enough for the Premiership, that I do deserve a chance. Had it gone badly I'd have probably thought I shouldn't be here."

Humphreys regards the performance at Adams Park as being even more important to his development than the rite-of-passage epic in January when Leicester became the first club to beat Munster in Limerick in European competition. Humphreys played because Andy Goode was injured and he was not only up against Ronan O'Gara but the Thomond Park factor which has reduced some fine English clubs to putty. On a foul night the Tigers' pack took charge and behind them the young out-half again stepped up to the plate.

"The atmosphere was electric and I like it like that, " Humphreys said. "If it's quiet I'm more nervous. During the warm-up I imagined that the chant for Munster was for Ulster. We were written off by everyone outside Leicester but it never entered my mind we could possibly lose."

The victory earned them a quarter-final at Welford Road where today they play Stade Francais, the aristocrats from Paris who have never won the Heineken Cup, losing 34-30 to the Tigers in the final at Parc des Princes in 2001. On that day Goode was at outhalf and Pat Howard at centre.

Howard, now in his last season as Leicester coach before returning to Australia, has Goode at 10 this afternoon with Humphreys on the bench. Last weekend, in the EDF Energy Cup semi-final against Sale, Paul Burke started at out-half. Humphreys, who shares a flat with the wing Johnny Murphy, watched the match on television after a training session. "There'd be something wrong with you if you weren't disappointed."

Last Monday evening he scored a try in Leicester's 2119 win at Newcastle in the 'A' league which keeps them on track for a third successive title. Wherever you look at Welford Road there is massive strength in depth. The Tigers are chasing the treble of Guinness Premiership, Heineken Cup and EDF Cup.

"I think we've got an excellent chance, " Humphreys said.

"We've got the best equipped squad, we've got the draws we wanted and we've had very few injuries. We have 40-odd players any one of whom can do the job."

That Humphreys is at Welford Road is partly down to the old boys' network . . . he was spotted playing for Ireland in the Hong Kong Sevens . . . as well as his natural ability and his brother. David Humphreys, 10 years older than Ian, has been a fixture for Ulster at Ravenhill and, but for O'Gara, would have been Ireland's automatic choice 10. Ian played for Belfast Harlequinstrain twice a week but couldn't break into the Ulster squad. "With my brother there and Paddy Wallace I couldn't argue a case for a contract. It would have been great craic to be in the same squad as David but if I stayed in Belfast I'd still be holding the tackle bags.

"The offer from Leicester came out of the blue. My only concern was that if you want to play for Ireland you're encouraged to stay in Ireland.

It's impossible to make a breakthrough unless you're a big name. David told me you never say no to a club like Leicester. I'm in my second season here and I'm more settled and I know the players.

The first year I was a wee bit lost. I was out of my depth and I didn't trust myself. It was my first experience of professional rugby and I didn't realise what you had to do.

I was studying sports science at Loughborough and that was a diversion. At this level you've got to be totally prepared. I'm lucky I have the support of a large, close family." For medical and legal advice he's well covered. His father was a surgeon, David is a solicitor as well as a pro rugby player, another brother is a dentist, and his sisters are a doctor and a dentist.

Humphreys, who will be 25 this month, has just signed a new two-year contract. In June he marries Jenny in Belfast before setting up home in Leicester. "I've never played for Ulster and I'd love to go back one day but at the moment I couldn't be with a better club. I'll stay until they get rid of me."

HEINEKEN CUP QUARTER-FINAL LEICESTER v STADE FRANCAIS Welford Road, 3.30 Live, Sky Sports 3, 12.30