Former European Champions Northampton Saints will have to produce their best performance of the season to reach the Heineken Cup final according to director of rugby Jim Mallinder.
The English side are the only team left in the competition with an un-beaten record after coming through the Pool stage with six victories to their name. They face Perpignan at stadium:mk on Sunday and Mallinder is only too aware that his side will need to raise their game to make the final in Cardiff in May.
"I am convinced we will need our best performance to beat Perpignan," he told the Northampton Chronicle.
"I remember that game they had against Leicester in the pool stages and they have got a good pack.
"They have got a good side. It shows their priorities in terms of resting some players at the weekend, because they are not guaranteed a place in Europe for next season so they think they can go and win the Heineken Cup.
"It is going to be a big ask on Sunday.
"We know we can beat the top sides, we know we can do that."
"I think we are better equipped this season.
"We have proved that already by winning the quarter-final. That was a massive game for us, we came through that well and came through it strongly.
"We have put ourselves in a different position with this game on Sunday. We are at home, and we do call Milton Keynes home.
"We enjoyed playing there last time in the quarters and the squad are very confident that we have a very good chance of winning the game."