London Irish captain Bob Casey says his team can reach the Heineken Cup quarter-finals, an achievement which would mark the next step forward in their development.
London Irish are in a group with Benetton Treviso, Perpignan and Newport Gwent Dragons, though Casey is not underestimating the challenge from any of those sides.
They start with a home game against Benetton Treviso, but Casey warns that will not be an easy beginning to the competition.
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"We are really excited about it. We are excited about getting our players back from the World Cup and our new signings," said Casey.
"You have got to win your home games to have any chance, but Treviso have been one of the strongest and most competitive of the Italian sides in the Heineken Cup history so it will be a tough game.
"We do feel we can get out of this group. We talked about it when we came together pre-season and we feel that if we can get our top team out then we can qualify, but the big question is whether we can get the big guns out with injuries and stuff.
"Not many teams go to Perpignan and win but we will go there and give it a right lash. They have a tremendous squad, very strong up front and French teams at home are a big ask, but we have a good away record and a young squad who will just go for it.
"The Dragons are going well in the Celtic League, at home they are going to be a real tussle second game up.
"If we get a good start in the first two games then we have Perpignan at home, but you cannot look too far ahead in the Heineken Cup so we need to start well against Treviso.
"Hopefully we can get out of the group and it would be really good if we could, the next step forward in our development."