Narbonne travel to Viadana in Round 2 on Friday night with Christian Labit - a double Heineken Cup winner with Toulouse - adamant they will be giving the Italians their full respect.
"The biggest mistake people make is to underestimate the Italians and, as last time I looked they were second in the Italian Super 10, I certainly wouldn't discount them," said the former Toulouse favourite.
"Winning the Heineken Cup twice and completing the hat-trick for Toulouse is an unbelievable feeling. The end of last season was amazing for me and then I felt I needed to move to Narbonne to get first team rugby.
"Some people might think it could be hard for me to psyche myself up for the European Challenge Cup but I am a very competitive guy. I enjoy playing rugby and winning and hate to lose so the idea that the Challenge Cup isn't important for me is a total non-starter!
"As for the Pool, there is pretty much only one word to describe that - Northampton!
"It feels like wherever I go, I still end up playing against them. But I have to add that it's a real pleasure. I respect them as a team and as opponents more and more and I get to see these players who I'm starting to think of as old friends now.
"They are certainly going to be tough to beat but I'm going to enjoy trying. I didn't really know Bristol at all - I had never met them with Toulouse - but they gave us a good game. "We've had a tough start to the season with a lot of injuries and we lost a crucial game to Brive which hurt us a lot but the squad is getting back to full strength and we're determined to pick things up.
"Going all the way would be amazing for Narbonne. This is a team that has never played in the Heineken Cup and of course it's what every European Challenge Cup team wants to achieve. I'm not expecting us to make it for next season but that's testament to the quality of the tournament."
