London Irish boss Toby Booth has predicted "a tough contest" against European Challenge Cup quarter-final opponents Bourgoin on Thursday night.Victory for the Exiles would secure a semi-final tie - also at the Madejski Stadium - early next month.
But Booth (pictured), whose starting line-up features nine internationals under the captaincy of England lock Nick Kennedy (pictured), insists Bourgoin will not be taken lightly.
"We know we are in for a tough contest," he said.
"Bourgoin are a strong tem and they have a squad with real depth.
"They defeated Dax 43-6 last Friday night in what was a typically uncompromising French relegation battle, and with their future in the French Top 14 assured, the European Challenge Cup is an attractive prize.
Top seeds Irish start as overwhelming favourites to make it seven successive victories in the tournament this season.
They dropped just one point out of a possible 30 in sweeping aside pool stage opponents Connacht, Dax and Rovigo, and Booth fields a side featuring the likes of Kennedy, England backs Delon Armitage, Topsy Ojo and Peter Richards, plus red rose flanker Steffon Armitage.
Bourgoin are spearheaded by France international scrum-half Morgan Parra, who is determined to mark his farewell season with a trophy before joining Clermont Auvergne.
"I would like to finish the season on a high with Bourgoin," he said.
"We have beaten Montpellier and Dax recently, which has put us in good heart. We are back in our old routine and capable of producing solid team performances."
All four Challenge Cup quarter-finals take place in England, with the weekend games seeing Worcester hosting Brive, Northampton entertaining Connacht and Saracens having home advantage against Newcastle.
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