NEC Harlequins and Brive lock horns again when they clash in the Parker Pen Challenge Cup quarter-finals over the next two weekends - with Harlequins head coach Mark Evans singling out Alain Penaud as the Brive dangerman.

Back in the 2000 / 2001 tournament - which NEC Harlequins won - they beat Brive 20-13 at Parc Municipal des Sports in a cracking quarter-final clash.

"Brive are top of their Pool in the French Championship, losing just one match, and have had some fantastic away wins - including at Montferrand and Colomiers," said Evans.

"They have suffered only a few defeats this season in all competitions, the latest at Castres Olympique last weekend in the Parker Pen Challenge Cup, and they are going to be two very, very difficult matches for us.

"The current Brive team have a good scrum and driving line-out with Alain - who is enjoying an Indian summer - running the whole show. He is a wonderfully gifted player, as I saw first hand when he was with Saracens, and he has some exciting young backs outside him."

Penaud captained Brive to Heineken Cup final glory in Cardiff in 1997 and is still going strong in a Brive side rapidly regaining their place in the French hierarchy.

"We well remember their ground for the sheer size of the place and their passionate supporters," said Evans. "And we were a bit fortunate that day, a Will Greenwood try getting us out from under the cosh.

"We rate the Parker Pen Challenge Cup highly in its own right - there are only so many competitions with the opportunities to win a trophy. On top of that, winning the Parker Pen Challenge Cup is another avenue to qualify for the following Heineken Cup tournament."