Viadana and Montpellier have set out their stalls by naming their strongest teams possible for tomorrow's historic Parker Pen Shield Final.
The showdown at Parma's Stadio Lanfranchi will be the first European final to be staged in Italy and fittingly it will host the first Italian club to reach this stage.
Viadana have beaten Spanish, English and Italian opposition to reach the last two of the Parker Pen Shield and after victories over Madrid, Rotherham and final hosts Parma, but now they need only to make the short journey down the road for a chance to write their name on the Shield and Italian rugby history.
Meanwhile Euro newcomers Montpellier will relish the prospect of playing Viadana having already knocked out three Italian sides on their way to the final at the first time of asking with wins over Roma, Petrarca and
Leonessa.
Viadana captain Mario Savi said: "It is an honour for us not only to be the first Italian team to reach a European final but also to do so in front of the Italian supporters. All we need now is to finish the game with a win and the day will be perfect.
"Fortunately we have our strongest team available and are particularly strong in the back-row with Gregor Hayter, Lance Persico and Matthew Phillips, and hopefully we can give a big performance."
Phillips is one of seven internationals, five for Italy, in the Viadana squad that also includes England wing Tom Beim and ex-Wallaby lock Tom
Those Italian internationals will be well known to Montpellier captain Cristian Stoica. The Italy centre is also one of the most experienced players in the tournament and will make his third European final.
Stoica said: "I played for Narbonne in 2001 (against Harlequins) when we lost but then won with Castres against Caerphilly last year so hopefully I can make it two in a row.
"For me, nothing changes, every final is a huge occasion for the players, the team and the supporters so we will give it our all.
"It is coming to the end of a long season and, just like Viadana, we are all tired and carrying injuries, but as soon as you get onto the field, in a final, it lifts you up final one final big effort."
Montpellier: D Bortolussi; L Arbo, C Stoica (capt), B Guilloux, D Navizet; J Valls, S Buada; JM Meunier, L Armand, P Tacchella, C Chemin, J Daniell, S Welch, J Russell, M Macurdy. Replacements: O Diomande, P Toleafoa, M Bert, S Galtier, Y Saladie, B Tissot, S Jouve.
Viadana: S Casper; T Beim, A Masi, A Cepollino, K Robertson; B Feeney, M Mazzantini; M Savi (capt), V Jimenez, R Porreca, T Bowman, C Bezzi, M Phillips, G Hayter, L Persico. Replacements: E De Bellis, E Brancalion, F Gumiero, M Auigni, S Bortolussi, A Accorsi, S Zanchi.
Referee: D Pearson (England)
