The reigning champions have been strongly backed to overcome Exeter amid the TOP 14 side’s far superior domestic form.

But O’Gara dismissed such talk, and also underlined how desperate his players are to feature in the contest again the 2020 Heineken Champions Cup winners.

"It's not in our language to be favourites, we play big games every week in the league and the [Heineken] Champions Cup,” he said.

“It was not easy to choose 23 players for this match, there are inevitably some disappointed."

La Rochelle captain Grégory Alldritt reiterated importance of the game to the club and explained that the novelty of competing in the latter stages of the Heineken Champions Cup is yet to wear off as they gun for a third final in three years.

"We are never used to playing a [Heineken] Champions Cup semi-final, even if it is three times in a row,” the 2023 EPCR Player of the Year nominee said.

“We have come a long way in three years. It's huge to have 30,000 supporters who will make the trip. We will enjoy it; we are big kids. It's a joy to play rugby in a stadium like this.

“It's just magical and we try as much as possible not to trivialize it. Just because it's three times in a row doesn't mean it's normal.

“We try to take things without asking ourselves too many questions, bringing a little more precision and concentration than on the other weeks. I can assure you that we are still excited, and we are still looking forward to tomorrow.”

Stade Rochelais do not see themselves as ‘favourites’ in their Heineken Champions Cup semi-final against Exeter Chiefs in Bordeaux today, according to head coach Ronan O’Gara.