Connacht currently lie third in Pool 5 after beating Montpellier 23-20 in Round 1 at The Sportsground and only losing 32-17 at four-time winners Toulouse last weekend.

“We sat down in the changing rooms after the game and said: ‘If anyone’s in any doubt as to whether Connacht belong in the Heineken Champions Cup, we do’. We are looking forward to the rematch at The Sportsground,” Friend told the Connacht Twitter feed.

That result leaves Connacht just a point behind Montpellier, with a double-header against Gloucester Rugby to come next month, before the return fixtures against the two French clubs.

The Irish province were well in the game at Toulouse throughout and only trailed by one point at the interval, before an 80th minute Pita Akhi try meant the hosts took all five points from the contest.

But despite coming away with nothing from their trip to Stade Ernest Wallon, Friend was upbeat about his side’s prospects in the Heineken Champions Cup.

“Our Connacht lads put up a great fight, they really did,” said the 50-year-old head coach. “When you are chasing the game in the last 15 minutes, which we were at that stage, you can give up some easy possession and I suppose that helped Toulouse get the bonus point, so good on them.

“Look, they are a quality side. You’ve only got to look all over the park at the depth. They have got international players coming off the bench and that is why they are TOP 14 champions.”

Connacht Rugby head coach Andy Friend is convinced that the Irish province are back where they belong in the Heineken Champions Cup after the first two rounds of this season’s competition.