The next chapter in one of English rugby's greatest rivalries will be written on Saturday when Leicester Tigers and Bath Rugby meet in the 24/25 Gallagher Premiership Final.
While the history will be discussed online by supporters, and in the media, to help set the scene for the showdown at Allianz Stadium, Twickenham, it's not what will act as a motivator for current players according to Joe Heyes.
“I wasn’t really following rugby at that time (in the 90s), so my big derby is always Northampton Saints," Heyes told the press at the club's Oval Park training ground.
"But I’ve heard from a lot of former players how massive it was, and it’s exciting to really reignite that and have a cracking final."
The match-up will see 1 v 2 from the regular season meet in the decider, but also sets up two physical sides for what will be a bruising encounter in front of a sell-out crowd at the home of English rugby.
On the prospect of a physical game, Heyes said: “I feel like we’re very prepared for another physical encounter. We’ll set the training week up right, and so when we get to game day we can fly out of the blocks and attack it."
“They’ve got a huge amount of flair in their team as well, so we need to ensure we lock that down. The set piece will also be vital, ensuring we have dominance in that area.
“Against Sale, it was a similar sort of plan – they have a great 10 in George Ford, this week we’ll face another great 10 in Finn Russell. They have huge amounts of creativity, so it’s about keeping that consistency in defence and allowing our attack to have some magic as well."
On whether the preparation changes because it is the final week of the year and a Premiership Final, Heyes said: “It’s definitely not just another game, you cannot shy away from the fact this is a Premiership Final. It’s a gradual build-up up but we’re all aware of the occasion."
Saturday's game will be the curtain-closer for a number of individuals in the playing group and Head Coach Michael Cheika.
Speaking about the impact that the Australian has had on the group in his year at the club, Heyes said: “He is a fantastic motivator. He gets the lads in the right mindset every day, that’s his specialty."
“The lads here treasure that and really thrive off it. In regard to belief, your body goes where your mind tells you to. He was really good with me before the game (against Sale); I was a little bit nervous, but he spoke to me and settled a lot of those nerves and freed myself up to go and play.
On his departing teammates, he added: “Individually, I want to do the best I can, but I also want to send everybody off in the best way possible. You know, it’s a reflection of how tight this group is and how great a club this is."
One of those departing in the summer is Dan Cole, with whom Heyes has shared the tight-head role with since his Premiership debut in September 2018, which doubled as Cole's 200th appearance for the club.
Speaking about his fellow prop, Heyes said: “It adds a lot for me because Coley has been an important figure in my career so far. As a role model and a competitor so it’s quite sad to see him retire."
“It’s the same with Lenny – they’re huge parts of this club, big leaders in the team and we want to send them off in the right way, by winning. We all have our own internal motivations, but yeah, we want to send them off properly.
“I sit next to him in the changing room, and he’s reading a Churchill book, or we’re listening to the same history podcast. He’ll be missed, in the changing room especially."
