Perpignan are still hurting from their banana skin accident at Benetton Treviso - but they go to former double champions Munster in Round 3 on Saturday determined to keep themselves in the quarter-final qualification mix.
An opening round defeat at the home of the Italian champions has left the reigning French champions with it all to do in the back-to-back contests with Paul O'Connell's team starting at their Thomond Park stronghold.
And Nicolas Mas, Perpignan's international prop who has extended his loyalty to the team to 2013 adding up to a one-club career spanning 14 seasons, knows exactly what to expect from the 2006 and 2008 champions.
"After our faux-pas against Benetton Treviso in Round 1, we compromised our chances to qualify, but luckily a victory against Northampton Saints has helped us stand second in our Pool behind Munster so all is not lost," said Mas.
"We really made things difficult for ourselves and now we have no choice but to win these back-to-back games against Munster. It would be a real achievement for us to go and beat Munster but our ambitions are still there and we want to reach the quarter-finals.
"A huge challenge awaits us - especially when we go to face them on their home turf. Thomond Park is like a fortress and a very difficult ground at which to play. Munster are a great team well used to competing in the Heineken Cup and they always turn up on the day as a fully committed team."
"I know that because I have played against them in two previous Heineken Cup tournament, in 2002 and 2006 and they are very difficult to face. Their pack is very strong and their three-quarters are fantastic players but, above all, they have an excellent metronome operator in Ronan O'Gara. Make no mistake, we know what to expect and we know we are in for an extremely tough challenge."
Perpignan, who beat Montpellier 29-3 at the weekend to lie in second place in the Top 14 Orange, have a formidable Heineken Cup home record and currently enjoy a club record of having won their last 16 tournament matches at Stade Aime Giral, where they have gone down just twice in 29 Heineken Cup matches.
But on the road the Treviso defeat means they have won just 13 from 34 and that away leg against Munster is as tough a challenge as they can get. And Munster will also have some inside help from French international prop Julien Brugnaut in identifying any chinks in the Perpignan armour.
"He is a good and strong player and he can definitely achieve his potential in a club like Munster," said Mas. The Irish province is renowned for being strong up front so he must be enjoying himself training with them because his profile fits their forward-orientated play.
"However, on the downside they already have very good and experienced front row forwards in their squad so it's a shame such a good player doesn't get to play that much."
"For myself, coming back from the autumn Test match series with the French team, I am all geared up to resume with Perpignan. I didn't play that much with Les Bleus so physically I am OK and mentally I am looking forward to the games ahead."
