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Leicester Tigers are as hungry as ever for Heineken Cup glory - the bitter memories of their 1997 final defeat by Brive still a mighty motivating force.
The double champions are two matches away from a third successive final and clash with Munster in front of the BBC Grandstand cameras at Welford Road on Sunday in a repeat of last season's thrilling Millennium Stadium final.
And Dean Richards, Leicester's Director of Rugby, believes the quarter-final showdown that had the "Sold Out" signs going up weeks ago will live up to every inch of its billing.
"Because we were so unsuccessful in Europe until the last couple of years, that has meant there has been a huge hunger in the side for success in the competition," said Richards.
"The Heineken Cup is something we have always longed for - ever since we lost to Brive in the 1997 final. This hunger and passion is always there and the mere fact we have won it for the last two years will not detract from the hunger the guys have got this year.
"It would mean a great deal to me if the club did win the Heineken Cup a third time, but, at the end of the day that would take an enormous amount of hard work and a great deal of good fortune on our behalf.
"And, while this season has not been going our way, you know things can change - and I think they are starting to change as we are getting the boys back on a far more regular basis."
Back on 25 May, 2002, Leicester became the first team to successfully defend European club rugby's most coveted trophy, beating Munster 15-9, but Richards believes a year is a long time in rugby.
"This is probably the pick of the quarter-final draw and we are very much looking forward to what is going to be a very interesting game - especially considering the final last year," he said.
"We learnt a reasonable amount about them at last year's final but at the same time so many things have changed. They have new personnel and this year they are a totally different side.
"Munster's strength is that they are a good all-round team. They have quality half backs in Peter Stringer and Ronan O'Gara and their centre partnership is not bad at all.
"They have a very efficient pack, competing well at the breakdown while their scrum is sound and their line-out good.
"But I think they will approach it slightly differently from the final, in that they feel they have to get one over on us.
"The atmosphere at Welford Road will be second to none, it is a great occasion and it is a great place to play rugby. Both crowds will go out to enjoy the occasion and hopefully it will be a great spectacle of rugby."
