London Irish fell at the final European Challenge Cup hurdle in 2006 - and the hurt and disappointment from that extra time defeat by Gloucester Rugby is being used as a motivating force in the latest chase for European glory.
Bob Casey was in the Exiles team beaten 36-34 in a thriller at the Twickenham Stoop and, after reaching last season's Heineken Cup semi-finals, the Irish international lock is determined they will pull out all the stops in attempting to step up onto the Euro winner's podium this time.
The Exiles are three from three in Pool 1 after beating Dax 38-0 at Stade Maurice Boyau in Round 3 and the Guinness Premiership leaders are targeting another maximum haul in Thursday night's televised return at the Madejski Stadium.
"We were devastated by that defeat in the 2006 European Challenge Cup final and we are determined to go one better this season," said Casey. "We want to qualify for another final.
"It was a good professional performance at Dax in Round 3 because the horrendous conditions and state of the pitch were the worst I have experienced for a long, long time and to score that many points was a great credit to the entire team.
"I am sure we will also have learnt a fair bit from that and now we are concentrating on the return match on Thursday.
"Dax put out something of a mixed side - and we would have been disappointed if we had not got our third bonus point win - but we will prepare for a tough Round 4 match.
"And although the match is being played on Thursday, which means a slightly quicker turnaround, that does not worry us and we are targeting another fully professional performance and another try bonus point win.
"The objective is to keep going for maximum points in all three remaining games for the simple reason that after the Pool stages seeding becomes all-important as it means the top two seeds can be at home in the quarter and semi-finals - if they keep on winning."
While Europe is the club focus for another week, the Exiles are also leading the chase for domestic honours as the Guinness Premiership pacesetters.
"It is unbelievable - but brilliant," said Casey. "Admittedly there have only been eight rounds so far and there is still a lot of rugby to be played but we are delighted with the way things have gone so far this season in both Europe and the Premiership.
"Even when we had key players missing during the autumn internationals, both with England and the Pacific Islands, we won three from three so credit must go not only to the players but also the coaching staff.
"The coaches have done a tremendous job in building up an extremely happy squad with a great work ethic and we are just enjoying all the challenges coming our way right now.
"And in the European Challenge Cup that means going one better than in 2006 - we want to win this tournament."
