'It was an amazing part of my life' - Cullen ready for his Welford Rod return

If Leinster's players want an idea of what it's like to play at Welford Road, they don't have to look far.

It's 14 years since their last away trip to the iconic Leicester Tigers ground, and of the current matchday squad only captain Johnny Sexton and substitute Cian Healy remain - both subs for that 25-9 defeat in January 2008.

Their head coach Leo Cullen knows plenty about the Tigers though. Not only was he starting that day in 2008, as well as captaining the Leinster side would go on and defeat Leicester in the final a year later, but he's also something of a favourite in the east midlands, having spent two seasons playing for the Tigers.

The second row swapped Leinster for Leicester in 2005 along with his teammate Shane Jennings, and the pair were regulars in the first team over the course of their two year, Cullen playing 56 times and occasionally captaining the side, both players winning a Premiership in 2007 before they returned to Dublin.

Cullen has been back to Welford Road since as a player, but this will be his first time returning as a coach, and admits to a few butterflies in the stomach at the prospect of an all-or-nothing knockout game at Welford Road.

"I suppose it's the atmosphere, it's the crowd, it's the way the team plays, the way they respond," he said, when asked about the Tigers' home ground.

"From my time there, I have always got this nervous feeling in my stomach. I remember what the match day is like there. You were there for your pre-match meal trying to eat your chicken and pasta at home. I remember sitting beside Shane Jennings, the two of us lived together, when we went over there first.

"The crowd were queuing up before the gates opened two hours before the game to get their spot on the terrace,