The TOP 14 club host Michael Bradley’s men, who reached the Round of 16 last season, in the first of their four Pool A games, after sitting out Round 1.

Azéma said: “The first game is always tricky because, in this competition, every team gives 300%. There’s a high level of visibility, as people talk about it across Europe, so teams want to perform well.

“Zebre have a lot of internationals in their squad, which means that they’re capable of playing very well, and they’ll want to put in a big performance. For us and certainly for me, we’re already focusing on it, because it’ll be an important game.”

After facing Zebre, Azéma’s side will then cross the Channel to face Worcester Warriors on January 15, when the 50-year-old knows exactly what to expect, despite the Gallagher Premiership team’s 31-26 defeat to Newcastle Falcons in Round 1 on Friday.

He explained: “No matter where they are in the table, particularly with the English teams, there are no half-measures. They give 200% and that’s the case for the whole European season.

“You can see it from start to finish in every game too. They’re capable of starting strongly and staying consistent, just like they can be on the back foot and 20 points down early on but still come back towards the end, because they’ve got that character and that culture of never giving up. So, playing away at that time of year, in winter, is never easy.”

The ex-ASM Clermont Auvergne head coach was appointed to the Toulon hot seat in October this year, having won the Challenge Cup with his former employers in 2019.

And as the three-time European Cup champions chase a first ever Challenge Cup, Azéma believes Toulon will need a good team spirit throughout this campaign.

He said: “We’ve won Champions Cup titles, so it’s important to do this competition proud and respect it as much as possible, and that’ll be shown in our commitment and our involvement.

“What I would like to see, though, is team spirit, a mindset, something that fits in with the culture at Toulon and a lot of commitment.

“In the past, this team has always had that idea at its core, so we need to have that purpose across the team, starting with being proactive, taking initiative in our play as a squad and gradually gaining confidence, whilst respecting the basics and doing the simple things right, which will allow us to be comfortable.”

RC Toulon head coach Franck Azéma has predicted a ‘tricky’ opening EPCR Challenge Cup fixture against United Rugby Championship side Zebre Parma on Friday.