Connacht lost 26-22 at Racing 92 and 27-18 at home to Bristol Bears back in December in Europe’s top club competition, and so now face a trip to Leicester Tigers in the last 16 of the Challenge Cup on April 3.

However, Friend is full of optimism, telling the Connacht website: “I think it’s a brilliant opportunity for us.

“We started out, at the front end of the year, in the [Heineken] Champions Cup and as the way the year has fallen, we’ve moved back into the Challenge Cup.

“Silverware and podium finishes are where we want to be, especially looking at this Challenge Cup as a real opportunity for us to go and win something.

“We have actually broken a few records this year — some good, some not so good — home losses and away wins. If we broke another one and that’s cracking a win in England - fantastic, I would be all for that.”

Connacht prop Denis Buckley acknowledged the challenge of facing the Tigers, twice winners of the European Cup, in their own backyard, but like Friend, believes the Westerners can win the competition.

“They’re obviously a really good side,” he said. “It would have been nice to have a home draw, but this is the card we have been dealt.

“It’s a really exciting game to start building towards. Our away form has been really good this year and there’s no reason why we shouldn’t be looking to win that competition.”

Connacht Rugby head coach Andy Friend believes the Irish province’s demotion from the Heineken Champions Cup to the European Rugby Challenge Cup is “a real opportunity” for his side to win their first European trophy.