Assistant coach Marius Goosen, who played for the Italian side home and away against Tigers in 2008/09, said: “We have had some good crowds and good atmosphere at home in the league so the aim is to replicate that for the Leicester match.
“Hopefully we will benefit from playing in the Celtic League and, although it is early days, we want to carry the intensity and experience from that to give us a good chance.”
Goosen is Treviso’s record scorer with 227 points in 34 appearances in the Heineken Cup, including starts in all six of last season’s pool matches before joining head coach Franco Smith on the staff.
“We always look forward to playing in the Heineken Cup, it is a good chance for us to test ourselves against the best,” he said.
“The Heineken Cup is always the highest level and we are going to have to be at our best.
“We are in a strong group, starting with Leicester Tigers, who have the won the competition a couple of times, so we know the challenges ahead.”
Saturday’s match will be Treviso’s 73rd in the Heineken Cup, while Tigers are closing in on the 100-mark with 97 appearances so far since 1996/97.
After Saturday’s trip to Treviso, Tigers host the Scarlets in their opening home game of the European campaign on Sunday, October 17 (3pm). Tickets for the visit of the Welsh region are available now. Contact the Tigers ticket hotline on 0844 856 1880, book online or call into the Tigers ticket office at Welford Road now.
