Tigers the underdogs - Murphy

"Going to Leinster will be a huge challenge and they will be odds-on favourites in Dublin with a team full of quality players who are coming off the back of doing superbly well in the last game of the Six Nations," said Murphy.

"We will certainly have our work cut out but we're not looking in bad shape. However, I do not agree that it will be a case of Leicester's forwards against Leinster's backs.

"We have got backs at Leicester to compete with anyone and Leinster have a set of forwards who can do likewise.

"Having Leo Cullen and Shane Jennings back has helped bring huge intensity to their game, they have the same front row that played against England a couple of weeks ago, they have a Scotland international in Nathan Hines as well as Ireland pair Jamie Heaslip and Sean O'Brien.

"It's a tremendous pack and perhaps that has been over-looked because there has always been so much focus on the likes of Brian O'Driscoll, Gordon D'Arcy, Isa Nacewa and Rob Kearney. Leinster have class right across the board so it will be interesting to see what style they bring on the day."

Twelve Leinster players featured in the RBS 6 Nations with Brian O'Driscoll, Gordon D'Arcy, Jonny Sexton, Eoin Reddan, Cian Healy, Mike Ross, Leo Cullen, Sean O'Brien and Jamie Heaslip all seeing action in the 24-8 victory over England at the Aviva Stadium.

"Leinster are very used to playing at the Aviva and I'm sure they will relish the opportunity to play against English opposition in front of a partisan crowd," said Murphy.

"I was In Dublin for Ireland against England - and it was a very nice day - but that was Ireland against England and this is Leinster versus Leicester so it's a different game altogether.

"I don't think either team need any more motivation than knowing it's the quarter-final of the Heineken Cup.

"It's very disappointing to miss out on these big occasions and games against Leinster are extra special for me so I'm even more gutted to miss out. It's a bitter pill to swallow when the crowd gets going and you're sat on sidelines but fingers crossed that I will be back before the end of the season.

"I have an operation on April 12 to take the pins, screws and wires out of my foot then it's all about how quickly I can recover.

"If I'm jogging in April then I'll have the opportunity to train with the rest of the squad and if I'm sprinting by mid-May then hopefully I could make the end of the season."

That could include a sixth Heineken Cup final appearance for Leicester, the 16th final being staged at the Millennium Stadium on Saturday, 21 May, with Murphy adding: "The Millennium Stadium is one of my favourite places to play rugby, the atmosphere is amazing and I've enjoyed my games there. But there is a lot of rugby to be played before we can even start thinking about going back there again."