Biarritz pack the key - Erinle

A year ago he was in the centre for Leicester Tigers when they went down 19-16 to Leinster at Murrayfield and now he is in the running to be in the Biarritz Olympique squad for the all-French showdown with Toulouse at Stade de France on Saturday.

And he could be part of a fourth European final as he is already a double winner with London Wasps - a Heineken Cup winner in 2004 a year after picking up an Amlin Challenge Cup winners' medal.

"I have been quite fortunate to be involved with a number of successful teams in high profile European finals," he said.

"At this stage of a tournament all it really needs is dotting the i's and crossing the t's because you cannot improve on your pattern of play or fitness so just a case of preparing mentally, getting the small details right and performing on the day."

Biarritz are through to a second Heineken Cup final after winning both their knock-out matches across the border in San Sebastian, against the Ospreys and then former double winners Munster, when Imanol Harinordoquy went through the pain barrier time and time again to inspire his side to victory.

"Imanol is a phenomenal player but it is always all about his team effort and the boys in the scrum were sensational against Munster," said Erinle.

"In any game, if your forwards step up then it makes your life a lot easier in the backs and while we were pretty solid in the backs they came and helped us out on that occasion."

And his Biarritz team-mate Magnus Lund, the former England and Sale Sharks flanker, believes they are capable of bucking the odds yet again and using their underdog tag to their advantage against the triple champions.

"A lot of people were doubting us - should we be in the quarter-finals and then should we be in the semi-finals - and I think those last two tournament victories have proved a few people wrong and if people keep writing us off we will be happy to take that and just go out there and do the work," he said.

"Those players who had been in the Heineken Cup final before said at the start of the season this was something they wanted to experience again and now, while we are happy we are there, it is a case of not just getting to the final, it is the winning of it.

"The boys have worked really hard for this and it is great for the team while for my part, I am just happy to be playing in the team and getting picked as there are a lot of good players not making the side.

"There is a really good team spirit and that is what has driven us this far - and I hope it takes us one step further and that we can pull it off.

"Imanol had a big day in the semi-final - but he has those days quite often - and it is something we expect of him. He battled through and is having a tremendous year and that is huge for us.

"Qualifying for the Heineken Cup final was one of our objectives as Biarritz have a great tradition in this competition and it was one of the aims to get to Paris.

"I think it is going to be a huge and tight game between two sides who know each other well and will not be taking too much notice of our previous games against each other this season.

"I have played at Stade de France a couple of times and it is a great ground and there is going to be a great atmosphere for this all-French final."