European Cup: Johnny Watterson talks to Leicester coach Pat Howard who tries his best to talk down the latest clash of the titans at Welford Road tomorrow.

Cecil B DeMille was once asked about the mysteries of making a successful film. The director, famous for his casts of thousands, said something along the lines of "begin with an earthquake and build up to a climax." The crusty old epic-maker would have been satisfied with Leicester's opening match of the Heineken European Cup tomorrow in Welford Road, when champions Munster arrive, their seismic reputation already causing tremors around the English hinterland.

For Leicester coach Pat Howard, Munster's rolling into town affords him, his huge pack and pacy backline an instant benchmark and perhaps, too, some thoughts of the 2002 campaign, when the then best team in Europe beat Munster 15-9 in the Cardiff final in the second of their European Cup triumphs.

In nine European campaigns, Leicester have reached three finals and only failed to reach the knock-out stages on two occasions, in 2000 and 2004.

But after the Cardiff experience, Munster bounced back in 2003 and collared the Tigers 7-20 at the quarter-final stage. Since then the two clubs have not met, leaving the record at an honourable one win each.

"We seem to get tough pools each year," says Howard. "The first year that I was here we had Wasps and Biarritz. Wasps were the champions and Biarritz were not the weakest side in the world. Fortunately, we had Calvisano, who were a bit off the pace.

"The next year we get the Ospreys as the champions of the Celtic League and we get Stade Français and Clermont Auvergne, who I know very well. They were one of the bigger clubs in France. I guess that we get them each year. I think just about every team now has two good sides in their pool."

Howard, a world-class Australian centre in his day, endeavours to play down the emotional issues surrounding the meeting and the fact that a significant number of Irish names litter his squad. It has been Leicester's tradition to be more calculating and less emotional when it comes to pivotal games.

However, with Geordan Murphy moving between fullback and wing as well as flanker Shane Jennings, Leo Cullen in the second row, former Ireland under-21 scrumhalf Frank Murphy, hooker Gavin Hickie, outhalf Paul Burke and fullback or wing Johnny Murphy, there will be more Irish faces on the pitch than any other nationality.

Johnny Murphy, no relation to Geordan or Frank, has been the surprise package at Welford Road and something of a revelation. The blocky utility back has lined out four times this season, having made his debut at fullback against Harlequins.

"We'd been watching him and we decided to give him a trial and he took his trial opportunity very well," says Howard of the former Leinster under-21.

"He has taken the chance now and played four weeks in a row, showing himself to be very versatile and capable in what is a very competitive area, fullbacks, centres and wings, at our club.

"But it's just a team, isn't it? I'm sure for them (Irish players) personally there is a big aspect to it and they are playing very well and I'm very happy how they've settled in. I'm also really pleased with the teamwork that those guys add. It has been fantastic. In terms of playing Irish sides, there's probably going to be a bit more venom for them but in all fairness, if you can't get up for a Leicester game against Munster you shouldn't be playing the game."

Raised on a diet of silverware and trophies, the Leicester crowd expect their side to beat every team that steps across the whitewash. It is how it has usually been. The soaring days of captain Martin Johnson leading a savage, ambitious bunch are still alive around the ground and the current Martin in situ, Corry, as well as Howard are in little doubt about soaring expectations.

"In every competition you have got to set your goals, but you don't want to look too far ahead," he says. "For anyone to get out of our pool they have got to be playing really well and the best team will come out of it after some big games along the way.

"Even getting out of the pool in this tournament guarantees you nothing. For the knock-out stages, you just start again. You have got to deal with how the competition is laid out for you. The interesting time, particularly, is going to be rounds three and four in December.

"We are going to have a significant amount of our guys away playing representative rugby throughout November, and trying to gel the side back together in a short space of time for Bourgoin home and away is going to be a really big challenge. The funny thing about this job is you have to deal with some bushfires along the way, and I am sure lots of things will change as we go along."

That juggling phase around the autumn international series will equally apply to Declan Kidney and Munster but the nature of the modern coach is to deal with the now and from a Leicester viewpoint, Howard has done that incredibly well. The Tigers' 15-10 victory over Northampton in their last outing in the Guinness Premiership was their fourth win in succession since drawing 27-27 with Gloucester at Welford Road back on September 16th. The win ensures some degree of comfort on the back of a home victory over the Dragons in the Anglo-Welsh Cup and away successes in the league at Harlequins, Worcester and in Franklin Gardens.

In the last match Geordan Murphy started on the right wing, Johnny Murphy on the left and Cullen in the second row. Jennings and Burke also came off the bench while Johnny Murphy was replaced by Leon Lloyd in the second half. No wonder London Irish are anxiously looking around at the scatter of Irish talent in other English clubs.

"We're a big club," says Howard. "There are big clubs in France. You can list them all pretty easily. There's big clubs in England. In Ireland, Munster are the big club. We know the usual culprits will be there or thereabouts. Sure there will be one or two surprise packets but the big sides turn up for this competition. As Declan Kidney said, and he's exactly right, the first challenge to any side regardless of who they are is to get out of their pool."