Amlin Challenge Cup new boys Exeter Chiefs can't wait for their moment of history when they take their first steps in European rugby against high-flying Montpellier at Sandy Lane this weekend.
The Chiefs were promoted into the top flight in England for the first time last season after winning the Championship title and have made an encouraging start with home wins over two other Amlin teams, Gloucester and Newcastle Falcons.
And now head coach Rob Baxter says his side can't wait to get stuck into European competition for the first time when Montpellier, lying fourth in the Top 14, provide their first opponents in Pool 3.
"It is going to be great to play our first European game at home, but I know already we have a group of players who are looking forward to going over to France to play," said Baxter.
"These next two weeks are going to be a great experience for us. For me, though, the key is whatever experiences we have this year we use to develop and move on.
"We have, however, this week attached some main goals, which we have taken out of the Premiership games, so it is very important for us to move forward through these two fixtures and not take any steps back. We have got a decent bit of momentum and it's important for us to keep it."
Having passed their first test in the Aviva Premiership with flying colours against Gloucester at home, Baxter's boys will be looking for a similar good start to their European career.
"The fact we are playing in Europe shows just how far we have come. Saturday is going to be a historical occasion for the club, but what is good about this group of players is that they are thriving on the history of things," said Baxter.
"Just this week we are now starting to have some of the older photographs and memorabilia being put up around the players corridor. That is purely at their request, but they have talked at length about wanting to be a group of players that make history.
"They have made some history by getting into the Premiership, but now they want to be the people that are writing the first chapters of us in the Premiership. This is one of the stories they wanted to be involved in."
Montpellier will go into the game having won their last three Top 14 fixtures and will be full of confidence.Baxter is fully aware of the threat of Montpellier, even if some fo their more established names have been rested from European action.
"Montpellier are a very good side and they have threats all across the board. Their pack like to drive line-outs and when that fails they like to have a good old rumble or they will feed the ball off around the fringes," said Baxter.
"When they do break out of that they do they have a very good back division who like to offload and to run hard. Some of the tries they have scored this year have been incredible.
"The challenges for us are coming from everywhere, so the key will be how we adapt on the day. That is a big challenge for us, but if you watch how we train and see the enthusiasm in the side at the moment then I'm confident we can do well.
"I just know the players are looking forward to it and when you have a team that are looking forward to it, as a coach you have to look forward to it as well."
