The Scottish region reached the Heineken Champions Cup quarter-finals in 2019, but were knocked out at the last eight stage by Munster Rugby and featured in the Challenge Cup last season, again reaching the last eight before being defeated by Bordeaux-Begles.

But upon a return to Europe’s elite club competition, Cockerill has said his side are looking forward to the tests posed by 2019 Challenge Cup semi-finalists Sale Sharks and 2019 Challenge Cup finalists La Rochelle.

“Sale have got a very strong South African contingent and enjoyed a good season last year,” said Cockerill on Edinburgh’s official website.

“I know Steve Diamond really well and obviously played against him as a player and coached against him in the Premiership.

“They’re a good side that have recruited pretty heavily, but very well, and they are always going to be a tough team to play against.

“I also coached against La Rochelle in the semi-final of the French Championship three years ago. They’re a really strong side and Jono Gibbes is obviously the Director of Rugby there and is doing a really good job.

“They have a lot of very good players and they’ve continued to grow and compete at the highest level in the Top 14. Like all French clubs, they’ve got a really good home record and it will be a huge test for us when we travel to Stade Marcel Deflandre.

“If you’re in the [Heineken] Champions Cup, you’re always going to be coming up against the best teams in Europe and as a club we’re relishing the challenge.”

Edinburgh Rugby head coach Richard Cockerill has said his side are “relishing the challenge” of taking on Sale Sharks and La Rochelle in Heineken Champions Cup Pool A.