Franck Tournaire will be to the fore of Narbonne's challenge when the 2001 European Challenge Cup finalists clash with Northampton Saints - the Heineken Cup winners in 2000 - at Franklin's Gardens on Saturday.
Narbonne have beaten Bristol Rugby and Viadana in Pool 1 but the former cornerstone of the French pack accepts this is the one that really matters.
"European rugby gives us a great chance to test ourselves," said Tournaire. "Although maybe we are not going to be able to contend for the title this season, we certainly hope to get out of the Pool stages and push ourselves as far as we can.
"We have had good results in our first two rounds but the away games against the English teams were always going to be the biggest tests for us.
"However, I'm looking forward to playing against Northampton. They are a quality side with a lot of international players. They are the strongest team in our Pool and, for a relatively small team like Narbonne to play against them, is a great opportunity.
"Obviously I have played against Northampton several times in the English League and Cup when I was at Leicester. The matches against Northampton were some of the biggest games of the season and I remember them being one of the really tough teams to beat.
"They have a solid pack and with the introduction of players like Carlos Spencer to bring even more quality to the backs, they are a very complete team.
"I think they are a side who underachieved last year and, to be honest, the away game will, to a certain extent, be about damage limitation. To play Northampton at Franklin's Gardens and come away with a victory would be a big achievement for any team - let alone us!
"But we have a good home record and I think we should be able to use the home advantage to the full in the return leg in Round 4 as the European cups are very prestigious tournaments and every team wants to do well in Europe."
