“These are the games you really want to play in,” the flanker told the Irish Times. “You want to get a benchmark of where you are as an individual and as a team, and where you are in this journey with this new and young group that we have. We really want to test ourselves and get a win.”

Connacht haven’t enjoyed great form on the road in the competition, losing their last six games, but they began their European tilt well last weekend with that resounding 36-9 victory at The Sportsground.

Similarly, Leicester have had a few wobbles at home in the tournament, losing five of their last seven matches, but they got their Heineken Champions Cup campaign off to a good start with a 16-13 win at Bordeaux last weekend.

Prendergast is under no illusion as to how tough the match will be – and knows what will be in store for the XV who line up on Sunday.

“Leicester have gone back to what Leicester have been known for – a strong set-piece, physical, confrontational – and have built Welford Road as a fortress. They really love to get a foothold in the game through set-piece, scrum, maul, and physically trying to impose themselves,” he added.

“We want us to be the first Connacht team to get out of the pool stage, so it’s about putting my best foot forward as an individual to allow the 15 to be in the best position to win, because ultimately that’s why we are here.”

Cian Prendergast, one of a quartet of 21-year-olds who helped Connacht Rugby beat Stade Français Paris in the Heineken Champions Cup last weekend, is hoping they will be able to prove themselves once more at Leicester Tigers on Sunday.