Auch are relishing being back in the big time - and looking for a second successive Pool 1 win when they travel to Overmach Rugby Parma in Round 3.
The one-point win over Albi in Round 2 gave the club a huge lift and captain and wing Raphaël Bastide is keen to keep the momentum going in Italy.
"The last time I played European rugby was when we won the European Shield, beating Worcester 23-10 in the final at the Kassam Stadium in Oxford," said Bastide, one of the club's try scorers in that 2005 final.
"It was a great day for us and enabled us to take something great away from what was ultimately a heartbreaking domestic season.
"And it's good to be back in the Top 14 and playing European rugby again. Playing against foreign teams always brings something extra to the season and we are enjoying ourselves.
"The win against Albi was great for us. They had a full side out and to have won that game was a massive boost to the whole team - not only in terms of our European campaign but also for the domestic season and seeing that these teams are beatable is very important for us and our belief in each other.
"Now we are preparing for the trip to Italy and we know the Italians are tough opposition and getting stronger all of the time.
"I remember playing GRAN Parma three years ago and the away game was particularly physical - they clearly had a lot of the same pride as French teams do in terms of winning at home.
"We are expecting a big challenge from Overmach and it should be a good game."
While Auch have claimed the early bragging rights with their win over Albi, the group favourites have to be 1998 Heineken Cup champions Bath Rugby, particularly with the arrival at the West Country club of World Cup winning outside half Butch James.
Auch went down 28-6 at home to Bath in Round 1, Bastide adding: "I was disappointed with the match against Bath, not by our performance really, but because we were really overpowered by them.
"They were tough, organised and played some formidable rugby. It was quite an introduction to English rugby for some of our younger guys!
"For me it was harder than any Top 14 game and, to have teams of that quality in the tournament, gives us a great opportunity to develop as a team.
"Obviously Top 14 survival is crucial to us and we are struggling in the domestic league so we approached the Challenge Cup without a great deal of ambition.
"However, two rounds in and we are in second place in the Pool, not too far behind the leaders and suddenly we could be in the quarter-finals of a European competition and that would be great for us.
"As a team, the opportunity to do well in Europe would bring a great deal of confidence to the side and I would love for the guys to experience what I did a couple of years ago when we won the European Shield."
