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Last season's runners up lured Thomas away from the Celtic Warriors in close season and Noves thinks Wales' record try scorer will add something extra to his team, especially when they open their European account away to the Llanelli Scarlets.
"'To start away at Llanelli really is to begin with the toughest challenge," admitted Noves, who saw his side go down 27-20 to Wasps in last May's Twickenham final. "Perhaps I will make Gareth Thomas captain for the day to help us out!' he joked.
'It will help to have a Welsh player on board this season to give us an insight into Welsh rugby in general. He will undoubtedly bring something extra to the team."
The 1996 and 2003 winners will also face Glasgow Rugby in a tough pool, as well as another former holder of Europe's top prize - Northampton Saints.
And Noves insisted the tough nature of the group means there is no room for personal revenge when it all kicks off in October.
"Next season won't be a case of wiping out bad memories," he said. "I only have good memories of the Heineken Cup, even though we lost in the final at Twickenham. We are very lucky in figuring in two recent finals and qualifying to the quarter finals most seasons.
'But before thinking about getting to the final this season we must concentrate on doing a lot of hard work.
"It's a tough Pool and there are certainly no easy teams. The Scarlets and Northampton in particular are incredibly experienced in the Heineken Cup. They seem to get to the knock-out stages almost every year.
"We must take one match at a time starting with Llanelli at Stradey Park.'
