Beware French Magic - Cockerill

"French sides, as a rule, don't travel well, but this Biarritz side has enough international experience to cope with the travel bug and turn up and play and we certainly won't be taking them lightly," said

Cockerill, who won 27 caps for England. "Yes, home ground advantage is with us, but most importantly we know what we have to do."

However, the Tigers will have to do that without Martin Corry, the in-form Test No 8 suffering a dislocated elbow in their 28-13 victory at Gloucester yesterday.

Cockerill, of course, has experienced French club rugby himself, having spent two seasons at Montferrand (now Clermont Auvergne), before returning to Leicester this season; primarily as a coach, although injuries and suspensions have seen him pressed into action.

"They don't travel well because they're very strong in front of their own crowds and they like their home comforts," he explained.

"Biarritz have not done very well in the French championship away from home and this is a game we have to win if we have any aspirations of progressing to the quarter-finals. The ball really is in our court and if we can't get a win over them at home we don't deserve to go through, do we?"

Cockerill firmly believes the key to next Sunday's match will be the start. French teams, whilst renowned across the world for their aggressive approach, tend to fall apart if they start poorly away from home.

"If we can start well, say similar to the two Wasps games, I think there's a good chance that we could run away with it," said Cockerill.

"But, having said that, at the same time if we don't start well against them, we could be in all sorts of trouble."

The last time Tigers and Biarritz met, the latter racked up a comprehensive 23-8 win at the Stade Aguiléra, scoring two tries to one and outplaying their visitors in virtually every facet. Winger Philippe Bidabe won the official Heineken Cup Man of the Match Award, but halfbacks Dimitri Yachvili and Julien Peyrelongue were not far behind as they pulled the playmaker strings behind a rampant pack.

This time, however, Peyrelongue is missing from Biarritz's line-up, having picked up a serious knee injury during his side's 48-17 win at Calvisano in December.

"It's a big loss, as Andy Goode would be for us," said Cockerill. "Peyrelongue's a quality player and he's a quality goal-kicker, but they've got their scrum-half Dimitri Yachvili to kick goals in his absence.

"The French can come up with anything with their backs against the wall and they can score tries from 100 metres out if the conditions suit them.

"We can't be complacent in any way, our two games against Wasps have put us in a good position, but, remember, it's all or nothing for them, too. Like us, if they lose, they could battle to make the Heineken Cup play-offs."