Nathan Hines admitted he fears former Scotland mate Johnnie Beattie will shatter his dream of winning the Heineken Cup for the second time.
Lineout specialist Hines will line-up for Clermont against Beattie’s fast-improving Montpellier in this weekend’s quarter-final showdown.
Ex-Edinburgh hero Nathan laughed off the notion that his side will start as clear favourites because they are on home turf.
Hines, who helped Leinster to Euro glory three years ago, declared: “Despite this being an all-French encounter, it will be a whole new ball-game for both teams.
“It will be nothing like playing in the Top14 championship because it is all or nothing lose and your are gone.
“We still feel the pain of losing to Leinster in last year’s semi and we don’t want to feel so low again. Montpellier have emerged as a very powerful young team who are very aggressive up front.
“They have a lot of physicality and even their bigger guys like Johnnie can chuck the ball around.”
Hines also admitted he will be hellbent on keeping his cool under pressure, having been the recipient of a series of yellow cards in crucial matches. One of them came in the recent league game with the same opponents.
Hines added: “We don’t regard ourselves as favourites.
“I reckon it is more like a 50-50 situation; Johnnie and his mates will be coming here to attack and win, but we have not lost for three years on our own pitch and that creates its own pressure.”
A solid display by Hines and Beattie will also boost their respective chances of being included in Lions coach Warren Gatland’s plans for the summer trip to Australia.
Having already toured with the Lions, Hines has made it clear he would love to be included again, even though he quit the Test stage two years ago.
Beattie has already underlined his credentials with his performances for Scotland in the Six Nations campaign.