Leicester could emulate Gerard Houllier's Liverpool by completing a unique treble if they overcome Stade Francais in Saturday's Heineken Cup Final at Paris' daunting Parc Des Princes. The Tigers already have the Premiership title and Zurich Championship play-off crown in their grasp following an exceptional season and only the Frenchmen, fortunate conquerors of Munster in the semi-final, stand between them and an unprecedented three-trophy haul.
Stade will go into the tie as undoubted favourites boasting an unbeaten record in Paris together with the best defensive and scoring records in this year's competition. England forward Martin Corry, one of Tigers' most consistent and influential performers, knows it will require a Herculean effort if they are to emulate the feats of Bath and Northampton, who have taken the trophy back to England in the competition's first five years. And while up to 20,000 Leicester fans are ready to invade the French capital, local heroes Stade can realistically treat Saturday's showdown as a bumper home game.
Corry is in no doubt of the magnitude of the task facing Leicester, and he realises Italian international Diego Dominguez will be the main threat. He insisted: "They are a terrific side. They've got a great scrum, a superb lineout forward in David Auradou, while Christophe Juillet is an outstanding number eight. Their fly-half Diego Dominguez will try and dictate the game and both the Stade centres are capable of making life very difficult, so they will probably start as favourites."
However, Corry, who will depart for Canada in eleven day's time as England vice-captain on their summer tour, added: "When it comes to a big game like this, everything else is irrelevant. There is a great feeling within the squad - everyone is totally focused - but it's time for all the chat to stop. It will be do or die out there on Saturday. This is the one we really want. Europe is top of the list, and there is a feeling that we have previously let the fans down in this competition. We can take a lot of success out of this season, but I think there will be a feeling of hollowness if we don't win it."
Leicester continue preparations at their Versailles training base in Paris today, intent on a low-key build up away from the media spotlight. Stade, meanwhile, seem consumed by the hype surrounding their first Heineken Cup final appearance, especially as it has arrived on home soil. Maybe that overwhelming air of expectancy circulating around Paris at the moment could just work in Leicester's favour - victory would undoubtedly represent the Tigers' greatest achievement.
Filed by Shane Murray
