Reddan: We can't afford to lose to Toulon

Eoin Reddan expects Leinster’s biggest threat to their season to come this weekend.

Reddan: We can't afford to lose to Toulon

Eoin Reddan expects Leinster’s biggest threat to their season to come this weekend.

The province are preparing for this Sunday’s Heineken Cup quarter final showdown away at defending champions Toulon.

It is a side coming in with plenty of confidence following last weekend's Pro 12 derby win over Munster at the Aviva Stadium.

Coach Matt O’Connor will have a fully fit squad to choose from when he names his starting 15 on Friday.

Leinster scrumhalf Reddan returned to full training yesterday as did Brian O’Driscoll and Gordan D’Arcy.

Other players like Cian Healy, Jack McGrath and Martin Moore all returned as well, all recovered from minor knocks from Ireland’s Six Nations win in Paris last month.

Despite the fully fit squad, Reddan says they will have to be on their guard.

“They are a class team, it will be very tough over there obviously but it is what it is, there isn’t much to read into.” Reddan said.

“They are very strong all across the park, they have loads of options in lots of different positions so we will have to be at our very best and ready for anything.

"They have an excellent scrum and they will be looking to get on top there, having said that we have a good record ourselves and the lads have had a good Six Nations so hopefully we will do even better in that area.”

It’s nearly a year to the day that Matt O’Connor experienced defeat against the eventual champions in his previous job at Leicester Tigers.

It was a result that saw the now Leinster coach’s side not advancing to the semi-finals. Does Reddan think that will be of benefit to his team now?

He said: "Knowing the opposition obviously helps and it’s something we think about a lot no matter who we are playing so yeah it helps a lot.

"We will know everything that we have to do when we get down there but it it’s a tough game and probably the toughest we have had.

"It will be a big day and we will find out where we are at the end of it but it is knockout and we can't afford to lose."

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