The 1998 Heineken Cup kings were 18-13 winners against the Romanians as they made it two wins and a draw this term but Newcastle’s bonus-point success at home to Cammi Rugby Calvisano means the sides are now level on 10 points apiece at the halfway stage.

And with a trip to the North East still to come in Round 5 and the Falcons unlikely to slip up in Italy this Saturday or at home to the Wolves in Round 6, Brive know they need to take everything possible from their second clash with Bucharest.

As for the visitors, well they will have to do better than four-times Heineken Cup champions Toulouse did at the Stade Amedee Domenech, with Brive beating the 1996, 2003, 2005 and 2010 continental kings 25-13 there early last month. Bucharest will take heart from the fact that Brive lost to lowly Biarritz Olympique the last time they were in action at their home ground, but victories over Bordeaux-Begles, Bayonne and Perpignan and a stunning 34-0 success against reigning French Champions Castres Olympique show just how tough a task awaits Lyn Jones’ troops.

The French visit is the Wolves’ first away game of the campaign after they were given permission to play all three home ties in successive rounds at the start of the tournament due to the cold winter weather that lies ahead in Romania.

Bucharest led the home tie with Brive going into the final quarter and came within four minutes of beating Newcastle in Round 1 but victory on the road this week would rival the enormity of their only previous win on French soil nearly eight years ago. The under dogs triumphed 23-17 against current Heineken Cup holders RC Toulon at the Stade Felix Mayol in January 2006, but Toulon hadn’t then established themselves as anywhere near the force they are today.

Bucharest have two more away wins to their name in 10 seasons of European rugby, with Italian side Crociati their most recent victims in January 2012, just over three years after Padova were toppled in December 2008.