Scotland international Nathan Hines will join one of the Heineken Cup’s most exclusive clubs if Clermont Auvergne are crowned European champions.
Only four players have tasted Heineken Cup glory with two different teams since the tournament began in 1995.
However, 36-year-old lock Hines, who helped Leinster lift the trophy in Cardiff two years ago, could now join Philippe Carbonneau (Toulouse and Brive), Cedric Heymans (Brive and Toulouse), Federico Mendez (Bath and Northampton) and Eoin Reddan (Wasps and Leinster).
French heavyweights Clermont are also chasing their first European title, having reached the Dublin final through eight successive victories.
Jonny Wilkinson’s Toulon now stand between Clermont and European honours in what could a prove dress rehearsal for the French Top 14 final on June 1.
“That final win with Leinster two years ago is right up there in my career,” Hines said.
“I know we were losing 22-6 at half-time but I never felt that the game was over, despite the fact that Northampton had dominated us.
“It was an amazing turnaround and in any professional game, to come back from a deficit is pretty good but in a big final it is really something special. But then the Heineken Cup is a special tournament.
“The Six Nations is fine but this tournament has some of the best players from all over the world, so to have a winner’s medal is a real achievement.”
Hines, a British and Irish Lion in South Africa four years ago, won 77 caps for Scotland but since stepping down from Test rugby in 2011 he has become a key part of Clermont’s formidable squad.
Their march to the final has seen them score 265 points in eight games and concede just 88, producing an average scoreline of 33-11. Even allowing for points machine Wilkinson’s considerable presence, Toulon could have their work cut out.
“We have a lot of leaders in the side, guys who’ve played in a World Cup final and in Challenge Cup finals. So while we know that this will be a high-pressure match, we’ve played a few pressure games before,” Hines added.
“I don’t think we are under any particular pressure to deliver on Saturday. It has been an objective of the club to win the French Championship and to win the Heineken Cup and our sole aim this weekend is to win the Heineken.
“What people are saying about who is favourites doesn’t really bother us at all. How we want to play is more pressing than any degree of expectation.
“We’ve got the team on paper but then so have Toulon. It is about how we play, how we cope with the physical pressure.”
The clubs have already met twice in this season’s Top 14, with Clermont winning 24-21 last November before they battled out a 26-26 draw a month ago.
“You have guys like Bakkies Botha, Danie Rossouw and Chris Masoe in the Toulon line-up and they are not exactly going to come out and start tickling you in a ruck are they?” Hines added.
“Saturday won’t just be about preventing Jonny Wilkinson from controlling the game. Jonny finishes what his team creates, so it goes without saying that discipline will be incredibly important.”