Neil Best insists Northampton will not be intimidated ahead of their Heineken Cup quarter-final showdown with Munster in Limerick.
Flanker confident for quarter-final Cup clash
Ireland international Neil Best insists Northampton will not be intimidated ahead of their Heineken Cup quarter-final showdown with Munster in Limerick on Saturday.
Saints will face a tough challenge at Thomond Park given that twice European champions Munster have suffered just one defeat, against Northampton's Midlands rivals Leicester, in their last 42 Heineken home matches.
And Saints' degree of difficulty is increased by the fact they have the added pressure of being the only English team in the quarter-final.
Should Northampton, who are chasing triple titles this season, be knocked out at the weekend, it would mark the first time since 2003 that England has gone without a Heineken semi-finalist.
Former Ulster flanker Best, however, has drawn comfort from Saints' 31-27 pool stage victory over Munster earlier this season, while the return fixture could also have easily gone their way after a close 12-9 defeat at Thomond Park.
"I know none of our players will be daunted by going there in the quarter-finals," said Best.
"That last match gave us a lot of confidence. The big thing is that we believe in ourselves wherever we are playing, and know we could have won that match at Thomond in January.
Intensity
"All in all it is going to be a very difficult encounter, but we are also a good team.
"People were saying that our home win against them in the pool stage was one of the best games they had seen in years.
"We played really well in matching their ferocity and intensity, and tactically we were very clever. It was certainly a great match to play in and to win."
Northampton have already secured LV= Cup glory and qualification for next season's Heineken Cup, but they are seeking further success at European and domestic level.
Saints are just three Heineken victories away from reclaiming the silverware they won in 2000, while they have already effectively landed a home draw in the Premiership title play-offs next month.
"The prize is to win all three," added Best.
"We have only done one third of that, although the LV= Cup final was a tremendous spectacle and we ensured Heineken Cup qualification as well."
