The three-time runners-up last reached the final in 2020, with Rabbadj coming on as a second-half replacement as Bristol Bears ran out 32-19 winners at the Stade Maurice-David, but the 26-year-old believes Franck Azéma’s side can finally go one better this season.

Rebbadj reasoned: “We have a good group with a wide range of experience. That’s only a good thing, and I think that will allow us to go one step further in this campaign. We’re hoping so.”

Toulon’s Pool A opener sees them welcome Zebre Parma to the Stade Félix Mayol today at 20:00 (UK & Irish time) and with games against Worcester Warriors, Newcastle Falcons and Biarritz Olympique to follow, Rebbadj is looking forward to testing himself against the “best of the best”.

“They’re all good teams,” Rebbadj commented. “It’s the best of the best in Europe, so it’s going to be challenging for us and we’ll have to be at our best.

“[European Cups are] very special, because they allow [players] to play against other teams in Europe. That’s something that we don’t [always] have the opportunity to do, aside from in the [EPCR] Challenge [Cup] and the [Heineken] Champions Cup, and also in the international set-up, but that’s on a bigger scale.

“Aside from them, in terms of club level, it’s the only chance we get to play against other European teams.”

Just as it was in 2020, this season’s Challenge Cup final will be in southern France – at the Stade de Marseille.

With Marseille under 70km away from Toulon, Rebbadj has admitted playing there would feel like a home final for the TOP 14 side.

He added: “It was already meant to be played in Marseille last year, but with COVID, it was complicated.

“We’re right next door, so I think that playing in a final in Marseille would be incredible.”

RC Toulon lock Swan Rebbadj hopes that the “wide range of experience” at the TOP 14 club can guide them to a first ever EPCR Challenge Cup title this season.