Cullen holds a 'winning hand'

Leinster legend Leo Cullen is expecting a test of mammoth proportions in their European Champions Cup semifinal against RC Toulon.

If it was not difficult enough already for the three-time European kings, they must face the back-to-back champions in their native France.

The Marseille meeting is a repeat of last season's quarterfinal, when Bernard Laporte's side triumphed 29-14.

But forwards coach Cullen has made sure his men know the size of the challenge that lies ahead, with the French champions gunning for a record third straight title.

"It's the biggest test the squad are going to face this season,"Cullen said.

"What Toulon have done over the last couple of years has been incredibly impressive, backing it up with two trophies and in a semifinal again.

"Everyone understands the challenge.

"From our end we haven't performed to the levels expected and that's hugely disappointing.

"But this is the knock-out stages. One game. We just need to make sure that we prepare as best we can.

"We got well beaten in that quarterfinal [in last season's European Cup], even though it was quite close at half-time - we'd weathered the storm - but we didn't control the game particularly well at the start of the second half."

The prize for Sunday's victors is a spot in the Twickenham Final against the winner of Saracens against ASM Clermont Auvergne.

And Cullen has a plan to get there.

"They've got massive talent across the board; the depth of the squad that they have, the budget that they're able to operate," he said.

"They rested guys at the weekend and still had over 650 international caps on the pitch.

"They're operating from a different place, but we understand that challenge now and I think the lads have a pretty good understanding of what's expected of them.

"We'll go there with a plan, will give it our all and that's all we can expect of the lads."

Source: @ChampionsCup