Will Leinster's Jonathan Sexton be a towering presence in this season's Heineken Cup? © Inpho

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Players/Officials: Johnny Sexton

Tournaments/Tours: Heineken Cup

Teams: Ireland | Leinster

Leinster fly-half Jonathan Sexton believes his side can lift the Heineken Cup again this year - if they progress from this season's 'group of death'.

The Irish province claimed Europe's biggest prize in 2009 with a memorable triumph over Leicester Tigers but their defence of the title ended at the hands of Toulouse in last season's semi-finals. This time around they face the daunting prospect of Top 14 giants Clermont Auvergne, Racing Metro and Aviva Premiership big-hitters Saracens just to reach the knock-out stages.

"It's a very tough group," admitted Sexton, who is set to reclaim to Leinster No.10 shirt for their opener against Racing at the RDS this weekend having made a successful return from a quad injury in Saturday night's Magners League victory over Munster.

"I think the two toughest groups will be ours and Munster's so to get out of them and into the knock out stages will be an achievement in itself. But if we can get out of our group we have got every chance of going on to win the competition. But we're not getting ahead of ourselves. The first target is to get out of the group and that's going to be pretty tough."

The importance of Leinster's fifth successive victory over their Irish rivals could not be understated after a disastrous start to the domestic campaign that until last weekend had reaped just one win from four matches - and included a defeat to league newcomers Treviso. And having made an impressive 25 minute cameo in front of a Magners League record crowd of 50,645 fans at Dublin's Aviva Stadium, Sexton has declared himself fully fit for his side's euro campaign.

"I was delighted to be back out there and delighted we got a win leading into the Heineken Cup next weekend," said Sexton. "The atmosphere was really good and it promises to be something special later this year when there are 50,000 Irishmen packed in there for the internationals - so I am definitely looking forward to getting back there.

"It was very important for us to get a win because we didn't want to be going into the Heineken Cup with just one win from five in the league. The result will now give us a big boost and it's equally important that we kick on from here and keep improving.

"It's been a long time since we won five consecutive games against Munster and every win against them is special. But at the same time it doesn't really matter what has gone on before - it's always the last win you remember. It was good from that point of you but all the focus is now on this weekend and a strong Racing Metro side that is set to come over."

Leinster coach Joe Schmidt, who joined the province from Clermont in the summer, has been in the firing line in recent weeks as his side struggled to overcome injuries and the enforced rest of some of their internationals but Sexton - who sat out three games with his latest injury - was quick to stand up for his Kiwi boss.

"There has been a lot of pressure heaped on Joe which is really not warranted. It is the players who have to take responsibility for things once we're on the field. Quite simply we haven't delivered since the start of the season and it's important we put in a performance for him and ourselves this weekend."

As the current holder of the Ireland No.10 shirt, Sexton could be forgiven for casting one eye towards the 2011 Rugby World Cup but his focus is very much on the here and now. "I don't really view the World Cup as happening this season but it's obviously important to have a good season this year and put yourself in the frame for the squad. But before then we've got the Heineken Cup and the Six Nations which are more important to me this year than the World Cup."

Jonathan Sexton was speaking on behalf of adidas, official match ball supplier of the Heineken Cup