The Saints face the French outfit at Kingsholm on Friday evening in what will be Smith's last game of rugby.

The 37-year-old prop has spent eight seasons at Franklin's Gardens after earlier stints at Glasgow and Brive.

But it is in the international sphere where he made his name, playing in six consecutive Tests for the Lions, including the victorious 1997 series against South Africa.

In the late 1990s he was one of the premier props in the game and, despite his naturally quiet demeanour, was made Scotland captain on the back of his consistently excellent performances.

Smith said: "We are the favourites because people in the media say we are. But we're all very well aware of how underdogs can react.

"We saw Bourgoin at London Irish (in the quarter-finals) and no-one in the world gave them any hope whatsoever of winning that game. But they dominated - both in the set-piece and physically - and came away with a win."