Bristol happy with underdogs tag

Bristol Shoguns are determined to throw everything at Leinster tomorrow in their quest for an unlikely Heineken Cup quarter-final…

Bristol Shoguns are determined to throw everything at Leinster tomorrow in their quest for an unlikely Heineken Cup quarter-final place.

Bristol must beat the Pool Four leaders - and score several tries - otherwise their debut Heineken Cup campaign will be over.

Leinster also have plenty of incentive, knowing that victory at the Memorial Stadium would guarantee them a home quarter-final draw.

"Leinster are four points ahead of us, and they should be favourites," said Bristol's Argentina international fly-half Felipe Contepomi.

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"There will always be a favourite, but that team has to perform for the entire 80 minutes.

"When I play for Argentina, most of the time we are not favourites, but you have to make the opposition work hard to justify that tag.

"When you play a side like that you have to say to them, 'show me in those 80 minutes that you are better'.

"You have to focus on the entire game. I don't care if Leinster have 12, 13 or 14 internationals in their team. They have to come here and play, and in those 80 minutes we can be as good, if not better, than them."

Shoguns coach Peter Thorburn makes one change from the side which recorded a superb 30-22 success in Montferrand last Saturday, recalling England wing Phil Christophers.

Christophers has recovered from a rib injury to take his place in the starting line-up, replacing broken thumb victim Brendon Daniel.

London Irish, already eliminated from the Pool Five equation, have only pride to play for against Madejski Stadium visitors Toulouse tomorrow.

Irish face a tough task against the French giants, who know that a sixth-successive group victory would probably confirm them as quarter-final top seeds.