Sergio Parisse is sure that his side have got what it takes to win at the Stoop © Getty Images

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Players/Officials: Sergio Parisse

Tournaments/Tours: Heineken Cup | Heineken Cup

Teams: England | France | Harlequins | Stade Français

When Stade Francais ran out in front of 76,569 baying home fans at the Stade de France last Saturday, few would have expected Harlequins to crash the party in such an exhilarating fashion.

But, when the smoke had cleared from the fireworks and the can-can girls had vacated the arena, it was Stade who were left bristling with a desire for revenge after their 15-10 loss. It was only the Paris club's second Heineken Cup defeat on home soil in 33 matches, and Saturday's return leg at a fiery Twickenham Stoop has all the makings of a classic grudge match. Quins now lead the way in Pool Four on 13 points, with Stade three behind on 10.

"Despite the loss we are eager to prepare for the return leg this weekend," said Stade captain Sergio Parisse. "We are looking to get the points we need away from home and, if we have to do it on the road, then so be it. We are up for the challenge and, as we clinched a good win away in Ulster, I don't see why we couldn't succeed again away from home.

"We are sorry for our president - who put a great show together in a great arena - and for our fans who came in such huge numbers to see us. It would have been a special occasion to have won at Stade de France but now we need to focus on what comes next wherever it takes place."

Stade won at the Stoop in last season's tournament, but away losses to Bristol and Cardiff Blues saw them crash out at the group stage. They will need to bring their big-match temperament to the table next Saturday if they are to progress in the tournament that has provided so much heartache for them in the past, losing finals against Toulouse in 2005 and Leicester in 2001.

"We are extremely disappointed from a results point of view and sporting performance but also for the event itself," said Parisse. "At times we were weak in the major areas of the game, at the scrums and line-outs, but our scrum wasn't that bad considering how strong the Quins' pack can be and their solid defence at the line-out and their counter attack disturbed us a lot.

"Those are two areas to work on for next weekend and we'll have to look for solutions to respond to that in the future."

Parisse maintains that there was no stage-fright from the home side, and refuses to use the occasion as an excuse. "The fact that we played at Stade de France didn't put extra pressure on our shoulders since we are used to playing there. We are the only ones who can have an impact on our own fate, it's down to us to do the work necessary during our preparation and we have to be in control of what we do on the day.

"The Quins have a strong defence and it was difficult to start the game by conceding two tries and be led 12-0 - especially in a Heineken Cup game against a team like the Harlequins. It was hard to handle and we struggled trying to come back.

"We managed to play more in the second half, we tried other options and moved the ball about. We had better intentions but we didn't use the ball as best as we could. And it was frustrating because we knew that until the end anything was possible and we could have won the game.

"We still have a lot to work on and we'll learn from experience. Sometimes, it is clear that we make things more complicated for ourselves than necessary. We'll have to go and get the qualification away in London now and, although it is not impossible, it will be very hard.

"We made a lot of technical errors - sometimes small details - and although we had some good actions our finishing let us down. We did not convert our efforts into points, particularly in the second half."

Stade boss Ewen McKenzie has reiterated the belief that the team can put their shaky away form behind them and come away with the points from the Stoop. With a side laden with stars few would bet against the Parisians, but Quins' performance at the Stade de France has put McKenzie's men on notice that they will have to play one of their best games of the season to take home the spoils.

"We are going to do all we can to win at the Stoop," said the Australian. "It will be a massive challenge and winning over there will not only be important in terms of qualification but in terms of experience for our team. It will be very special.

"We are in a situation where we are playing two games at Test-match level back to back against the same opponent and we need to find the answers. I know our potential and I know we can win in London."

Hampering McKenzie's preparations for the match are a series of injuries to some of his key players. Wingers Julien Saubade (thigh) and Julien Arias (back) are set to be ruled out with their respective problems, while Brian Liebenberg (muscle strain), Mathieu Bastareaud, Simon Taylor and Juan Manuel Leguizamon (all calf) are also struggling to be fit. McKenzie could opt to play Argentina star Juan Martin Hernandez at full-back instead of fly-half, with Guillaume Bousses coming in at number 10.

Heineken Cup 2008-09 - Round 4 (All kick-offs LOCAL times)

Friday December 12, 2008

Pool 2 Castres Olympique v Leinster 21.00 Dave Pearson (E) Canal+ Sport/ Sky Sports / Sky Italia /RTE*

Pool 4 Scarlets v Ulster Rugby 20.00 Romain Poite (F) S4C* / Sky Sports** / Sport+***

Saturday December 13, 2008

Pool 1 Munster v ASM Clermont Auvergne 15.30 Chris White (E) Sky Sports / France 2 / RTE*

Pool 1 Montauban v Sale Sharks 19.00 Peter Allan (S)

Pool 3 Benetton Treviso v Ospreys 14.35 Rob Debney (E) Sky Italia / Sky Sports**

Pool 4 Harlequins v Stade Français Paris 17.30 Nigel Owens (W) Sky Sports / Canal+Sport

Pool 5 Newport Gwent Dragons v Toulouse 14.30 Alain Rolland (I)

Pool 6 Biarritz Olympique v Cardiff Blues 14.35 Peter Fitzgibbon (I) Canal+ Sport / Sky Sports

Pool 6 Gloucester Rugby v Rugby Calvisano 15.00 Tim Hayes (W)

Sunday December 14, 2008

Pool 2 London Wasps v Edinburgh 13.00 George Clancy (I) Sky Sports / Sky Italia

Pool 3 Perpignan v Leicester Tigers 16.00 Alan Lewis (I) France 2 / Sky Sports / Sky Italia

Pool 5 Glasgow Warriors v Bath Rugby 14.00 Christophe Berdos (F)

* Delayed highlights ** Red button *** Delayed