The Anglo-French rivals meet at Welford Road this Saturday in a mouthwatering quarter-final contest. It’s one-all between between the sides who finished first and second in Pool 4. Richard Cockerill’s men got off to a flyer in round one as they cruised to a bonus-point 33-20 victory over the Parisians and went on to win their next four fixtures.

But Stade head coach Gonzalo Quesada steered his side to a pair of wins over Benetton Treviso and a home triumph over Munster to setup an all-or-nothing clash with Leicester at Stade Jean Bouin. And the Paris side came out 36-21 victors to earn a deciding quarter-final clash against the two-time European kings.

The Tigers have muscled their way into the top four of the Aviva Premiership with recent victories over Champions Cup quarter-finalists Saracens and Exeter Chiefs, though they have slipped to defeats at Sale and Wasps. Stade may not be in the frame to defend their Top14 title, with just seven wins from their 20 matches, but they will be firing on all cylinders as European rugby returns.

And Leicester captain Ed Slater is expecting Stade to show their heavyweight class in an all-or-nothing clash in what will be the third meeting of the two sides in European this season.

“This match will be completely different to the one in the pool stages. It’s a one-off game and that completely changes the mindset of the players. Luckily we managed to get home advantage which is important, and we want to make the most of that. But it’s definitely going to be a big battle,” aid Slater.

“To be involved in these huge European knockout games is one of the main reasons you play rugby. I’ve been to three quarter-finals and hopefully we can go a step further this time. But we know it’s going to be  a huge test against a Stade Francais side with a dominant pack and firepower out-wide.”

Leicester have reached two finals – in 2007 and 2009 – since they became the first team to successfully defend the European Cup in 2001 and 2002 – beating Stade in the 2001 final in Paris. Stade have finished runners-up on two occasions, and are looking to go all the way this year.

But head coach Quesada has a tough choice this weekend, whether to play South African star Morne Steyn his French playmaker Jules Plisson at No 10.

”It's a tough choice this weekend. Throughout the period where Jules was away with the France team, Morné played very well. Both have a very good kicking game, both are good in in defence, both play rugby we want to play them,” said Quesada.

“Both work hard and have a great attitude. I wish that the two make a difference, like during the week , if one was late for training. Both are internationals but I can not say.”

Notes

• This will be Leicester Tigers 11th contest against Stade Français Paris in the tournament including their 2001 final victory at the Parc des Princes. 
• Leicester have won three of their last four matches against Stade in the Champions Cup and have won four of five home matches against the TOP 14 club. 
• Tigers have lost just one of their last 31 home matches (W28, D2) and have won each of their last six matches on home soil in the Champions Cup. 
• Stade Français have made the knockout stage for the first time since 2009/10 however, they have not won a quarter-final match since 2004/05. 
• Leicester won 87 lineouts in the pool stage, 93% of their total contested – the most wins and second highest win rate of any team in the competition. 
• Tigers have lost their last three quarter-final fixtures, each by margins of seven points or fewer; all three of those defeats came away from home. 
• Stade have lost all four of their away quarter-finals in the Champions Cup, suffering a record defeat in the competition (42-16 v Toulouse) the last time they reached this stage in 2010. 
• The Parisians had the best tackle success from the pool stage (91%), missing just 12 tackles per game on average. 
• Stade have scored 12 tries from inside their own half this season, no other side has scored more than eight from the same distance. 
• No team scored more tries from kick returns than Stade in the pool stage (5 – level with Exeter).