Bernard Jackman believes Leinster will have to be significantly off the pace if they're to fall to a Heineken Champions Cup quarter-final defeat to the Leicester Tigers on Friday.
The four-time champions take on an English side for the second season in a row in the last eight, having won 23-24 in last year's quarter-final at Welford Road.
This time they host the Premiership champions at the Aviva Stadium, with the province confirming on Wednesday that around 23,000 of the 27,000 tickets have been sold.
The Tigers have had a disrupted season so far, losing head coach Steve Borthwick to the England job in December, but despite Leicester winning their last six games in a row in all competitions, Jackman believes Richard Wigglesworth's team will need to produce something special if they're to trouble the top seeds.
"I think we've seen Premiership teams come to Dublin in the past and just get blown away. I think there's a gulf," he told the RTÉ Rugby podcast.
Is Ryan Baird becoming the complete player?
"I think Leicester, they're not where they were under Borthwick. They had unbelievable clarity around how they wanted to play, and even though Wigglesworth is a disciple of Borthwick, they're just a little bit off at the moment.
"I don't think they have the power up front to be able to dominate Leinster, which is probably the only chance someone has of beating them, if they can put a real squeeze on their pack.
"I think it's a good draw for Leinster to be honest. I don't think they have the tools to be able to really threaten them."
Former Ireland women's captain Fiona Coghlan joined Jackman on the podcast, and agreed that the hosts will be too good for Leicester.
"I haven't been hugely impressed with them at all, even last week against Edinburgh. I know the conditions were horrific, but they just weren't even doing what they do well, the kick and chase game. They have really talented individuals but I just don't feel they're cohesive as a team," she said.
"They have the likes of [Handre] Pollard, [Freddie] Steward, and I know Pollard is a kicking 10, but they don't really play with the backs they have, they really rely on their forwards, and only have three second rows fit, so they don't even have a full squad to choose from.
"I don't think Leinster have much to worry about really. If they get themselves mentally right they're a far superior team."
Leinster head coach Leo Cullen is set to name his team tomorrow, ahead of Friday night's game, with Josh van der Flier a doubt for selection due to an ankle injury picked up in Saturday's 30-15 win against Ulster.
Both Jackman and Coghlan believe Scott Penny [below] will be the next man up into the seven shirt if the World Player of the Year doesn't make it.
And Jackman says he would also keep the returning Caelan Doris on the bench as a reward for Ryan Baird and Jack Conan's performances last week.
"I'd be happy for Scott Penny to get a start in this game. I think every time he's played, he's shown [his worth]. He's very unlucky, he's competing with Will Connors, Josh van der Flier in particular, but he's someone who's earned the trust of the Leinster coaches through his performances.
"Leinster will want an out-and-out openside, if the conditions are a little bit better I think it will be important. They'll want to play against Leicester, even though Leicester are a kick-focus team. Leinster will want to bring their natural game to the game.
"I would be happy enough to go with Conan and Baird again and have Doris on the bench, just to bring him back in easily. He'll be some impact player to come on. It would be hard on Baird or Conan to leave them out this weekend. It would be a boost for Leinster on the bench and a natural way back in," Jackman said.
Coghlan agreed: "Every time I watch him [Penny] play in the URC he's man of the match. It's hard to believe he only has two Champions Cup games down, and I think he's warranted that start.
"I think Doris is a better player than Conan and has more to his game, but Conan was brilliant last week and did what head to do and more."
Meanwhile, John Andrew, Callum Reid and Aaron Sexton are the latest Ulster players to sign contract extensions this week.
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