But having been drawn alongside the Basque giants, Connacht and Zebre they will have no better chance to make an impression of Europe's premier club competition.

They have never faced Biarritz in the tournament but skipper Chris Robshaw is well aware of the importance to get off to a winning start.

He said: "We want to push through to that quarter-final stage. It's all about winning your first couple of games. As soon as you let those slip away you're playing catch-up."

Biarritz succeeded Harlequins as Amlin Challenge Cup champions last season but are seen as the nearly men in the Heineken Cup having lost in two finals.

They made a flying start to the Top 14 season but go into the clash on the back of four defeats on the trot.

Match facts

Biarritz completed 90% of the 511 tackles they attempted in the Heineken Cup last season.

Quins have a modest record of 19 wins, three draws and 33 losses in the Heineken Cup.

Biarritz, who suffered an early elimination from last year's Heineken Cup, went on to win the ACC last season.

Imanol Harinordoquy has made 49 Heineken Cup appearances and could make it 50 in this match against Harlequins.

Only three players (Ronan O'Gara, Stephen Jones & Diego Dominguez) have scored more points in the history of the Heineken Cup than Dimitri Yachvili (624).

Nick Evans is Quins' highest Heineken Cup points scorer (142) and will aim to reach the 150-point landmark this weekend if selected.

Harlequins missed out on qualification to the knockout phases of this tournament last season despite winning four of their six pool matches (losing two). They bowed out of the ACC with a 37-8 defeat to Toulon at the quarter-final stage.

Quins have six wins against French opposition in this tournament, but have lost 11 (one draw).

In 29 matches against English opponents, Biarritz have a positive record thanks to18 wins and only 11 losses.

Biarritz lost all three pool matches away from home last season, at the hands of Ospreys, Benetton Treviso and Saracens.