The Magners League leaders lost their opening game in the so-called ‘group of death’ last weekend against London Irish, whereas the Cote d’Azur side – who lie joint second in the Top 14 – impressed with a 19-14 win against the Ospreys.

And the Ireland back row, who has three Test caps for the British and Irish Lions, admits his side have an uphill task to beat the Toulon ‘galacticos’, but the 34-year-old believes the passionate Limerick crowd could have a say in which way the contest goes.

He said: “I think we look at their team as a star-studded team of great talent who are going very well at the moment as well. It will take a huge performance from us in order to beat them.

“You just look at the names and the experience that they have there. You look at their back row with guys like (George) Smith and (Juan Fernandez) Lobbe, and (Jonny) Wilkinson and (Paul) Sackey out on the wing.

"They’ve household names in their team and they seem to be playing very well and it makes them very dangerous.

“I suppose we have Thomond Park and the great crowd that we have here but that’s not going to win it for us at the end of the day. It’s going to take a huge performance.”