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"I'm enjoying my time playing with the French boys and excited about what is happening to us this season - the players are certainly very determined," said Sivivatu, who scored 29 tries in 45 Tests for the All Blacks.
"The semi-final is going to be awesome and we will get up for the big game. We had talked before playing Saracens that we wanted to come out and play at what is a very difficult place.
"The Heineken Cup is challenging and it has been a good experience playing in the competition so far. Every competition is different and it is hard to try to compare to the Super 14.
"I came to Clermont for the rugby experience, life experience and to enjoy a different perspective. I had been in New Zealand since I was 17 and Europe is a great place to be."
But while Sivivatu will be hoping for a repeat of the result against the Hurricanes three years ago, he won't want a repeat of the injury he picked up in the second half that forced him to miss the final against the Bulls in South Africa. A dislocated shoulder ruled him out on that occasion, so a Heineken Cup final berth in his first season of European rugby would help to make up for that misfortune.
Not that anyone connected to Clermont is counting their chickens ahead of a game against the reigning champions. Leinster, according to Clermont head coach Vern Cotter look "almost unbeatable" at the moment.
But one man who will be hoping to plot their downfall at Stade Chaban-Delmas is Australian outside-half Brock James, who tipped the scales in favour of his team against Saracens with a 17-point contribution after coming on as a third-minute replacement.
"I wasn't perfect, but it worked out pretty well," he said. "I thought I was going to play about 10-15 minutes, although I'd prepared as though I was going to be playing from the start.
"I wasn't really expecting to get on so early, but I'd spent a lot of time during the week practising my kicking because we had a change of balls from the Top 14."
James was keen to play down any thoughts of revenge against Leinster after his nightmare display of kicking in the 2010 quarter-final against them in Dublin. Even so, he is keen to try to steer Clermont into a first Heineken Cup final.
"It isn't about revenge over Leinster. They did well the two seasons we played them, reaching the semi-finals in 2010 and then winning the tournament last season after we had met in the Pool stages," said James.
"We had those two games against them last year to try to get our revenge, and we beat them at home, but plenty of water has gone under the bridge since then. We have put together a good group of players and we are looking to be more efficient.
"We have more depth in the squad this season and adding players like Lee Byrne, Sitiveni Sivivatu and Nathan Hines has brought in different ideas. We have developed new determination through the season, which you saw in the end at Saracens when we held them out."
