Opening rounds of European rugby can be hard to get excited about but this evening's match-up between Bath and Munster at the Rec (8pm) certainly has the essential ingredients to be a belter.
Munster's attitude towards the competition they won twice between 2006 and 2008 has never been in question and their quest to return to the top table is ceaselessly compelling even if they haven't managed to achieve the consistency of their heyday in recent years.
When they enter the Champions Cup ring, they come out swinging.
Bath, on the other hand, have generally treated the tournament in much the same fashion as many of their English counterparts: similar to the way Munster and Leinster look at the URC - it's nice, but it's not their North Star.
But Bath, reigning champions in England and current table-toppers, at home against head coach Johann van Graan's former club in an opening Champions Cup fixture are going to bring it.
Had the draw set this tie up for round four, with fatigue, injuries or disinterest having set in, it might have a different dynamic but the blood will be up for this one.
"I've been fortunate enough to play Munster in the competition before, and I know what the competition means to them," Bath scrum-half Ben Spencer, a three-time winner of the competition with Saracens, said.
"How far Johann took them in the competition as well, I think that adds a little bit of extra spice to the game, and I'm sure the marketing team would have been able to sell The Rec out a few times for that game."
Had Munster not steadied the ship with the appointment of Clayton McMillan (above) over the summer, much of the focus of today's game might have been on what might have been had Van Graan stuck around, given what the 45-year-old has achieved with his new club.
Van Graan, who became the longest serving head coach at the province in the professional era, and coaching partner JP Ferreira spent five years at Munster, and oversaw runs to two Champions Cup semi-finals, three league semi-finals, and a Pro14 final.
But by the time of his final game, a lacklustre loss to Ulster in a URC quarter-final, there was a distinct impression that both sides realised they had gone as far as they could under that arrangement.
The South African's decision to move on has been an unmitigated success.
He took over a Bath outfit that had finished the 2021/22 season bottom of the Premiership. "Broken as a club at that stage" was his description.
Their improvement under the former Bulls assistant coach was at first steady and then spectacular.
Bath had finished bottom of the table before he arrived and he secured Champions Cup qualification in his first season.
The following year, they were second in the table after the regular season and beaten in the Premiership final.
They went one better the following year for their first English league crown in 29 years, while picking up the Challenge Cup as well and the Premiership Rugby Cup for good measure.
After Van Graan's departure Munster installed former forwards coach Graham Rowntree as head coach.
He led them to a brilliant but unexpected URC title in 2023, and they finished top of the regular season standings in 2024, before his tenure was abruptly discontinued six games into the following season.
Ian Costello took over as interim manager for the remainder of the campaign as they bided their time to get McMillan after he finished up with the Chiefs.
In the three post-Van Graan seasons, they twice reached the last-16 stage, losing to the Sharks, Northampton, and last season lost a quarter-final to eventual winners Bordeaux-Begles.
McMillan appears to have 'got' the Munster mentality and there will be a concentrated effort - despite a tough pool that also sees an away trip to Toulon - to remind the faithful of the glory days.
Bath's home form to date has been impressive, winning three from three with none of Sale, Gloucester or Bristol getting within a score, while on the road they've racked up 47 and 36 points in wins over Harlequins and Saracens, last weekend, respectively.
Munster, meanwhile, have to come to terms with last weekend's deflating defeat to Stormers in a top of the table URC clash at Thomond - a tie that has seen Ireland out-half Jack Crowley ruled out of today's match with an ankle injury.
McMillan went full bore with his selection, including Crowley and Tadhg Beirne, however, the failure to manage the second half cost them dearly and the 27-21 loss could come back to haunt them in the play-offs given the premium on home seedings for the knockout phase.
Prior to that, and the November international window, they had been almost flawless in the league in terms of their points return of 23 from a possible 25, including what appeared a statement win over a fully-loaded Leinster team at Croke Park.
In the other victories, over Scarlets, Cardiff, Edinburgh and Connacht, the grit displayed had given them the 'not playing particularly well but winning' sheen, generally regarded as a leading virtue in a genuine contender.
They'll be favourites for their almost sold-out historic Páirc Uí Chaoimh clash against Gloucester next weekend and Castres in Thomond in round four but a favourable seeding will likely depend on what they pick up on the road.
Henry Arundell's performance and two tries - an 80-yard intercept and the winning touchdown - last weekend had Van Graan comparing the England flyer to the legendary Springbok Bryan Habana.
"They're the two quickest players that I’ve coached and Bryan became one of the world’s best," said Van Graan, who worked with Habana at the Bulls between 2005 and 2009.
"Henry’s got a long way to go, just game by game, but he works so hard on his game. The speed bit was there for all to see, but he was also fantastic in the air."
There's a green tinge to the home side with locks Quinn Roux, who won 16 Ireland caps, and former Leinster man Ross Molony, starting on the bench, part of their powerful pack.
Out-half Finn Russell is becoming more consistent and disciplined in his autumn years without losing his ability to create something out of nothing.
The teams played out a 28-28 draw in a pre-season friendly but they haven't met competitively since the 2000 pool stage with home wins for both sides that season.
Last weekend's reality check might just be the kick up the backside that Munster needed as they begin a 10-week block that will play a huge part in how the first season of a new chapter in their storied history unfolds.
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