Whatever the outcome of their opening match, Munster's meeting with Toulon at Thomond Park was always going to be an important fixture in Pool 3. Having qualified for the knockout stages 12 times in succession, Tony McGahan's men know that home form is crucial for any team with hopes of progressing in the Heineken Cup.

Likewise, Toulon realise that a rare win in Limerick would give them a huge psychological boost. The big-spending French side are newcomers to the competition but their captain, Joe van Niekerk, says he is fully aware of Munster's history.

"I've been watching them over the years, amazing team. Amazing set-up and guys that have been together for a long time," he told the Sunday Tribune. "We're pretty much a new team and a team that perhaps over a few years – over two, three years – could grow into something which Munster is.

"So I look at us as two different teams but in terms of that I think what is very, very important is that each guy must bring his experience that he's had around the world to this team. The George Smiths, the Jonny Wilkinsons, [Juan Martin] Fernandez Lobbes – they must bring all their unique experience to us as a team collectively."

Van Niekerk missed the 19-14 victory over Ospreys yesterday with a throat infection so he will make his Heineken Cup debut in Limerick. Capped 52 times by South Africa, the powerful flanker kept an eye on how one of his compatriots got on at there last season.

"I know Jean de Villiers was there last year and he obviously really appreciated the fact that he was at a club of that calibre," Van Niekerk says. "I think you've got old hands there in number 10 Ronan O'Gara and they control the game really well... I think across the board you've got a group of players that is very experienced."

Van Niekerk was part of the heavyweight Toulon team that ended Connacht's Challenge Cup campaign at the semi-final stage last season. The 30-year-old says he and his colleagues have been "excited" about making the step up in Europe but thinks that last year's Challenge Cup run will be of limited benefit in the Heineken Cup.

"We got through to the final which we lost in the end and everyone was really disappointed about that because we actually played it at Marseille. So we got a little bit of a taste of it but I think you can't even compare the two, literally for the fact that you're coming up against world-class outfits in terms of clubs in your pool games."

Charismatic and friendly off the field, Van Niekerk has proven an inspiration on it since arriving at Toulon for the 2008'-09 season. He was given the captaincy when they were bottom of the Top 14 in January 2009 and against the odds he helped prevent relegation.

Last season Toulon reached the semi-finals of the French play-offs, and the signings of All Black prop Carl Hayman and Aussie flanker George Smith have made them an even more formidable side. Having recovered from a stuttering start in the French championship, they now lie second after nine games.

"Obviously it depends on weather conditions but having a guy like Jonny Wilkinson in your team is massive and it's a massive confidence builder for the rest of the boys," Van Niekerk says of Toulon's style.

"I think we're a team that likes to move the ball. On our particular day we can move it but if we need to keep it up front we've luckily had a bit more consistency up front, in terms of the new players that have arrived and the players that we had last year.

"Going into our back line we lost Sonny Bill Williams, which was huge. But we have Felipe Contepomi who has been in this competition and won it, so I think we have the necessary experience within our team to do something."

Heineken Cup Pool 3: Munster v Toulon, Thomond Park, Saturday, 3.30, Live, Sky Sports