The first meeting of the club’s in this season’s Heineken Cup in France last weekend produced a thrilling game with five tries and more than 30 international players in the matchday squads.
“It was a tough game, a full-blooded encounter,” says Tigers director of rugby Richard Cockerill.
“It was as intense as any Test match and we need to maintain that level this weekend.
“The Clermont crowd showed a great passion and it is a very difficult place to go and play. They have won 35 in a row at home. A lot of good teams have gone there and lost, teams like Toulouse, Stade Francais, Racing Metro, Leinster and Munster.
“We were not intimidated and we matched them physically, but we paid the price for our mistakes and Clermont took their scoring opportunities.”
Now Tigers host the return in front of a big home crowd at Welford Road, and Cockerill knows from experience what that kind of backing can mean for the team.
“We have great support at Welford Road. Our last home game against Northampton was a massive game for us and the crowd were right there behind the team,” he says.
“Clermont have a lot of international players who have played all over the world and experienced different environments, and they have had very good away wins this season at places like Perpignan, Toulon and Racing Metro. We know they will be tough opposition again.
“But we’ll have another big crowd – with the backdrop of the Caterpillar Stand and 10,000 people in there it is a great stadium and a great atmosphere. That support will be huge for us.”
Tickets for Saturday's game are available now. Phone the Tigers ticket hotline on 0844 856 1880, call in at Welford Road or at the Club Store in Market Street, Leicester, or book online.
