Hook wants Heineken Cup crown

"The Heineken Cup has to be a target," said Wales and British & Irish Lions centre Hook.

"We have won the Magners three times now - not that it isn't a focus - but the Heineken Cup is the main goal for the Ospreys. It's what we want and is long overdue.

"Beating big teams like Munster and Leinster away from home last year was massive for us. It's similar to with Wales - it's a psychological boost when you beat big teams and it stands you in good stead.

"But it is a hell of a group. We have Toulon away first up but I think the boys will enjoy it. A lot of people are saying it is a tough one but we are looking forward to it. The Blues beat them last year - that was a hell of a game and a great win for them - so we can take confidence from that.

"You can never write Munster off, they have such a great history in the Heineken Cup and still have some great experience in the squad, and London Irish will also be tough.

"It is such a tough group and the team that advances could well go on to win it.

"I think we have been growing as a side at the Ospreys. We have been in quarter finals when we've lost so, hopefully, we can now take those experiences and turn them into positives so we can go and get wins away from home against teams like Toulon."

Those sentiments were echoed by Hook's fellow Ospreys, Wales and Lions team-mate Adam Jones who hopes that the chance to lift Europe's greatest prize on home soil at the Millennium Stadium next May will help the region go the extra mile this time around.

"It's going to be hard but a lot of us have been together for six or seven years; we have that extra experience of playing together," added Jones.

"The final is in Cardiff and that is an extra carrot which will hopefully spur us on a bit.

"I think everybody could beat everybody in our group so picking up away bonus points and away wins will be very important. We know it is going to be hard but we have to back ourselves to win the group and go from there."