Leinster coach Stuart Lancaster believes that the Irish province's European Rugby Champions Cup quarter-final with Saracens at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin on Sunday is "international rugby in all but name".
Leinster headed Pool 3 as the only team with a 100 percent record in the competition, but Lancaster insists that Sunday's match against England's double Champions Cup winners will be a huge step up in quality, with internationals galore in both camps.
"I think your ultimate goal in the Pool stages is always to secure a home quarter-final and we've achieved that," said Lancaster, speaking at Leinster Rugby's quarter-final media day.
"This is a completely different level, though. It's as close as you are going to get to international rugby. It's international rugby in all but name.
"Obviously, playing the reigning champions, irrespective of what happened in the Pool stages, we know we have got an unbelievably difficult challenge coming our way.
"They are not the champions for nothing and they have got a quality team. You saw what they did against Munster last year at the Aviva and they were deserved winners on the day and in the final.
"It is set up for an absolute classic really with two great teams."
Lancaster also gave a mixed injury update from the Leinster camp, with wings Dave Kearney (shoulder) and Jordan Larmour (calf) both ruled out, but number eight Seán O'Brien and flanker Rhys Ruddock are expected to be available.
"Dave picked up the injury in the [Ospreys] game and he went for a scan this morning, so it's still early days, but the reality is he won't make this week," Lancaster said.
"To get Rhys back training again, given the injury – he's passed all his markers, he's run his best fitness test, his speed is good – is a real bonus."
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