Leinster face huge test on two fronts

And Miller, who played Heineken Cup rugby for both Leinster and Leicester, insists the next two Saturday's could define Leinster's season.

"Leinster deserve to be one of the hot favourites for the Heineken Cup. Wearing that mantle is hard enough in itself, and this team will face no bigger challenge than the one that lies in front of them over the next 10 days," Miller wrote in his column in the Herald.

"Leinster know they can outplay Munster from a rugby standpoint, so the big question for (Brian) O'Driscoll's men will be how much they will want it on the day.

"These matches always leave players out on their feet but you can bet that both sets of players will put it all on the line once again.

"The Leinster players know deep down how much they are willing to risk mind and body so close to a quarter-final, in the realisation that they will be required to back it up once again next week."

Miller, who won close to 50 caps for Ireland and was a Test Lion in 1997, is convinced Leinster have what it takes to finish their Heineken Cup preparations with a win at Thomond Park for a second season running.

However, he admits that Joe Schmidt's men will have to be fully focussed on nothing other than the first of the two fascinating fixtures if they are to make it back-to-back wins in Limerick and six in a row over Munster.

"It's certainly a big ask at this stage of the season," added Miller.

"The timing of the fixture is a little unfortunate as Leinster will no doubt have at least a small part of their mind on next week's crucial quarter-final clash with Leicester.

"Mental freshness is key, and any ideas of them being able to sneak a win playing at 90 per cent simply will not cut it on a day where one expects to see red jerseys tearing into them."