The two sides met for the first time in the Heineken Champions Cup last year and the French club romped home 55-10 at the Matmut Stadium de Gerland in the Heineken Champions Cup.

Gloucester now return to the same venue in a different competition – and their coach thinks they can use the experience of a difficult game in front of a partisan crowd for their own benefit this time round.

“I’m expecting a very tough game,” he admitted. “We felt that last year when we went over. That was obviously a very convincing win for them. They are playing really well this season and they are right at the top end of their league. I expect it to be a real challenge and I expect it to be a bit hostile but in good spirit.”

Gloucester’s line-up last season was a young one, yet they reached the Round of 16 before bowing out 27-16 at the hands of eventual runners-up Stade Rochelais.

Now they have got more games under their belt and are performing well in the Gallagher Premiership, unbeaten in their last four matches.

That means their coach is sure they will turn in a good performance in European competition this year – beginning with their trip to Lyon.

“We’ll prepare as best we can,” he said. “We’ve had a good look at them and we feel that our game is coming on. It’s a really exciting challenge to go out there and have a crack at one of the best teams in France.”

Gloucester head coach George Skivington has urged his players to erase any memories of last season’s crushing defeat at the hands of Lyon – and go into Friday night’s EPCR Challenge Cup game with confidence.