Leinster may have seen their Champions Cup hopes ended by La Rochelle in each of the last three seasons, but December's pool stage win over the defending champions has given them belief that they can be beaten.
Leo Cullen's side travelled to La Rochelle in the opening round of the pool stage four months ago, and prevailed 16-9 in yet another thriller.
It broke their losing streak against the French side, who have been their arch-nemesis in their quest for a fifth Champions Cup title.
A semi-final defeat in France in 2021 was followed by agonising losses in both the 2022 and 2023 finals, when La Rochelle scored tries in the final 10 minutes of each.
And although the stakes weren't as high when Leinster finally got over the line at Stade Marcel Deflandre earlier this season, Caelan Doris says it's given them belief that they can get the better of the champions when it matters.
"It affirms the belief in our squad in what we're capable of doing," Doris told RTÉ Sport.
"I don't think the losses took away from that belief necessarily, but definitely getting the victory shows us and proves further that we are capable of it and and that we can do it at the latter stages in Europe."
The 26-year-old admits he and the team are still carrying some scars from last year's final in particular.
The province got off to an incredible start at the Aviva Stadium, scoring three tries in the opening 12 minutes to lead 17-0, only for Ronan O'Gara's side to reel them in and win 27-26, with Georges-Henri Colombe's late try sealing back to back titles.
"The lessons from that are you need to keep attacking the game," he said.
'It's an exciting prospect to go up against La Rochelle again this year’ – Caelan Doris is anticipating another gripping encounter in Saturday’s Champions Cup quarter-final
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"A quality team like them are not going to lay down easily. It's really an 80-minute performance is needed to get the better of them.
"I think we probably bring the best out of each other. And yeah, you want to test yourselves against the best teams.
"This rivalry has grown pretty organically given we've played each other in a couple of finals and semi-finals and I think they're a quality team.
"We've been good over the last number of years as well, but have fallen short of the ultimate goal and they've gotten it. So yeah, we're chasing them in terms of that."
In terms of individual match-ups, Doris is set to have his hands full with opposition number 8 Greg Alldritt (below).
And the Leinster back row says he always enjoys coming up against the La Rochelle captain.
"He's got a very varied skill set," said the Mayo native.
"He's obviously a very good ball carrier, gives them a lot of go forward ball. He's capable of keeping the ball alive and getting the ball, getting his hands free and getting their running game going, sparking that for them.
"He's a bit of a menace in defense and slows the ball down for us quite a bit and makes himself a nuisance, gets a lot of turnovers. He's obviously their leader and a bit of a talisman for them as well.
"He's a man that we're going to have to be aware of and try and negate some of his threats.
"And for me, him being in the same position, he's someone who I would have watched quite a bit.
"We've had a few encounters now between La Rochelle and France, so he's a player I respect hugely and I've learned things from myself, but also relish getting to go up against him."
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Watch Leinster v La Rochelle in the Investec Champions Cup quarter-finals on Saturday from 5pm on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player.
Listen to live commentary Leinster v La Rochelle and Ireland v Wales in the Guinness Women's Six Nations from on RTÉ Radio 1's Saturday Sport, and follow live blogs of both on rte.ie/sport and the RTÉ News app.
