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The Welsh Cup holders won 40-0 in their Celtic League match back in October but Pontypridd coach Lynn Howells expects their next trip across the Irish Sea to provide a great deal tougher challenge.
"Our win over there earlier in the season will give them a big incentive for our quarter-final," said Howells. "We will be expecting a backlash from a quality team who will pose different problems to those Leeds Tykes threw at us over the last couple of weekends.
"Connacht have a few wise old heads in Eric Elwood and Warwick Waugh but also some outstanding young talent. I am happy we will be away in the first leg of a top quality tournament - just look at the teams who have won through to the quarter-finals."
By contrast, Xavier Pemeja, the Montauban coach preparing his side to face 1998 Heineken Cup champions Bath Rugby, declared: "We are disappointed to play the first leg at home.
"It is if course fantastic to be playing a European cup quarter-final - a historic first for Montauban and I'm sure our supporters will turn out at Sapiac to welcome a team of Bath's calibre. However, I think the fact that we are home first makes our task even more difficult.
"Their success speaks for itself - former Heineken Cup champions and multiple English champions and they have many English internationals in their ranks.
"We qualified from the last round having been drawn at home in the first leg but thanks to our solid performances - especially last week in Scotland - we came through.
"We at Montauban have always been fervent supporters of the European competitions - these matches help to develop players and give them massive experience."
