The Italian side will be looking to get their Pool 5 campaign back on track on Sunday, following last weekend’s heavy defeat to the Ospreys in Swansea.

Former Wasps and Worcester half-back Carlisle knows facing the French giants, who are looking to build on their victory over Northampton, will be another sizeable challenge.

But he is looking forward to pitting his wits against Ireland international Sexton, a three-time European champion while at Leinster.

“This will be another tough challenge after playing against Dan Biggar, who is also a quality international fly-half,” said Carlisle. “But you always want to play against the best sides and the best players. All the boys will be relishing it and I certainly will be if I line up against Jonny.

“He is in the top two fly-halves in Europe. If they Lions were playing next week he would be near the top of that list, along with Rhys Priestland, who I rate very highly as well.”

Treviso backs coach Marius Goosen was disappointed with his side’s display in south Wales, but has promised Racing a far sterner examination at Stadio Monigo.

He said: “We watched their game against Northampton and we know they are a good side, like all the teams in this competition. They put Northampton under a lot of pressure but, knowing the French sides as we do, we are hoping they do not travel particularly well next week and we can really get stuck into them in Treviso.

“We always back ourselves at home and I think we have quality players in this side who can turn things around in a week and that gives us a chance against them.”

Racing will start the contest as favourites, but coach Laurent Labit is far from complacent.

“We had been working very hard, increasing our intensity every week,” said Labit. “We are very committed to this competition and there is a lot of pride we can take from beating Northampton.

“But we cannot afford to lose our focus. Winning one home game does not mean we will qualify, we have to follow it up against a Treviso side who we know are very difficult to face when they are at home. We need to show the same intensity and desire as against Northampton.”
 
Match Facts

• This will be the first meeting between these sides in this tournament – Racing Métro 92 have never faced Italian opposition in this competition.
• Treviso have lost their last seven games, however Racing Métro had not won in five (L4, D1) before their win over Northampton Saints last weekend.
• Benetton Treviso’s Ludovico Nitoglia had the highest average gain (9.6m) of any player to make at least 10 carries in last weekend’s Champions Cup fixtures.
• Both these sides were yellow carded twice in last weekend’s fixtures, only one other side received two yellow cards (Scarlets).

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