Tigers are simply the best - Kayser

The Les Bleus international hooker is determined to leave Welford Road having helped the Tigers stock up their trophy cabinet - with the Heineken Cup the prime target. The first hurdle to be cleared for the 2001 and 2002 winners is Bath Rugby, who they meet at the Walkers Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

"We had very high objectives at the start of the season because Leicester Tigers is a club who want to be competitive in all tournaments," said Kayser. "We want to win titles this year and we are in a handy position to do so - which is certainly an improvement compared to last season and we intend to keep going as far as we can.

"Bath are a team we meet regularly in the Guinness Premiership and it's always tough against them, it was tight each time we have met them this season. But to face them in the Heineken Cup will be a different story and our approach
cannot, and will not, be the same as there is so much at stake. We have got the Heineken Cup title in our sights and we know that now there is no second chance.

"It will be the most important match so far for us this season and Bath will be thinking exactly the same. It's not just a question of playing a regular opponent, it's about playing a tough opponent in the toughest competition in Europe in a huge quarter-final. It might be regarded as being more entertaining from a spectators' point of view if we were facing a team from a different nation, but, as far as we are concerned, the task ahead of us is a tremendously exciting one."

The Tigers have won both Premiership encounters his season - though by less than an unconverted try in each case - and the 1998 Heineken Cup champions will have fond memories of their 15-12 quarter-final victory over the Tigers at the Walkers in 2006. Kayser was not involved on that occasion, but still appreciates the Tigers' love affair with the Heineken Cup.

"Here in England the Heineken Cup is 'the' tournament not to be missed," he said. We can feel the difference in the changing room when we are about to face a European team - be it an Italian team or an Irish province - as we know we are playing for the Heineken Cup and that is tremendously exciting.

"I guess it can be compared to playing on the champions league in terms of the buzz and excitement, though on a personal note I could not honestly say that I have contributed that much to the team over the last two seasons. It is more the other way round - it is the club that has given me something. When I came over here my main objective was to seize a great opportunity, face a big challenge and learn a lot from a great English club.

"And I couldn't be more grateful for what they have taught me, they have taken me to another dimension. The history of the club is so rich and the players have got values. They bring such a quality in the way they work as they have an unusual sense of determination, a strong culture, a winning spirit and ambitions and, in my opinion, they are unique in Europe. I have a great respect for them and now I am now making the most of my last moments at the club before I go back to Paris next season for personal reasons."