The four-time European champions have been placed into Pool A and will take on Northampton, who they secured back-to-back wins over in last season’s pool stages before being beaten by Saracens in the last eight.

The Irish province have also met Montpellier in recent seasons, beating them twice in the 2017-18 pool stages en route to a fourth European crown in Bilbao.

But despite their recent success over this season’s opponents, Lancaster said that his side will be ready for four tough European clashes.

"It’s a new format, irrespective of who you draw the important thing for any team - Leinster included - is that you have got to set out to win all four games really to give yourself the best possible chance,” Lancaster told the Irish Independent.

"We've played both teams recently, certainly over the last couple of years during my time here. Montpellier have changed coaching team recently, but they still have a formidable squad.

“We know Northampton well so no draw is easy, and we don't think ours is either.

"One of the challenges is, irrespective of the draw, the first game is the week after the final international game and so from a Leinster point of view we'll have this group of 15-20 players coming back in from international rugby and the next game they play is a European game.

"That's very much on our minds as well but we're excited about the format and there's not much room for error.

"If you get to the quarter-finals, that's home and away with an aggregate score and that's a fascinating twist to the competition.

“Win your home games, win one away game minimum will be the prerequisite if you want to come in the top four in your pool, to guarantee that quarter-final.

“Ideally four from four, but even then it doesn't guarantee a home quarter-final like it used to.”

Leinster Rugby coach Stuart Lancaster has said his side have no room for slip-ups in the Heineken Champions Cup pool stages after being pitted against two familiar opponents in Northampton Saints and Montpellier.