Tigers boss tones down trophy talk

Cockerill, who took over from Heyneke Meyer in February, has been installed as head coach on a full time basis with his side on course for England's Guinness Premiership title as well European glory in the Heineken Cup.

But Cockerill refuses to look beyond his side's next big challenge - Sunday's semi-final showdown with the Cardiff Blues at the Millennium Stadium.

He said: "All this talk of trophies is a bit surreal for me. I just get on with what I do. "All the fanfare of what we've done and how we are doing it just washes over my head really.

"If we get some silverware I'll reflect on it at the end of the year but we've got some good teams and big games to play. But we haven't won anything and you can't get too far ahead of yourself.

"A (Heineken Cup) final at Murrayfield and then a Premiership final at Twickenham would be nice but let's just get this week out of the way.

"We've put ourselves in a position to win something, but we may still end up with nothing and everyone will say 'well, it's been a pretty poor season,' but we'll see, that's just the way life is.

"I'm just worried about getting the boys prepared and dealing with what comes the week after."

Leicester's last-four opponents the Cardiff Blues, who are unbeaten in Europe this season, have already won the EDF Energy Cup and are on a high after six players were named in the British Lions' squad for the tour of South Africa this summer.

And former Tigers hooker Cockerill knows how much of a threat they pose to the English club's hopes of a dream double.

Cockerill said: "Playing the Blues will be a huge challenge. They are the form team in Europe. "They were unbeaten winners in the EDF (Energy Cup), they are unbeaten in Europe so far, they have six Lions in their squad and they're on a high.

"Cardiff are a very good side but so are we. Everybody keeps talking about them but Leicester are a big club, we've been there, we've done it before and people should respect that."

To make life even more difficult, Leicester must to travel to the Welsh capital's showpiece arena to face a Blues side who hold a 100 per cent record at the Millennium Stadium this season.

But Cockerill insists the setting will have no bearing on Sunday's result, and said: "They are in their home city and that will always help them, but we know how to win away in Europe. "This is a team that have been to Thomond Park and won in the European Cup, one that went to Paris and beat Stade Francais in a final.

"So we've been to big stadiums and played against hostile crowds in the past, and know what to do. "The best team will win at the weekend, it won't be down to the crowd or anything else. It's a brilliant stadium with an excellent surface, and hopefully the two good teams will put on a great spectacle.