The mutual admiration society word machine offensive has gone into overdrive in the final countdown to Cardiff.

"Munster are a great side," said Leicester Tigers captain Martin Johnson.
"You look at their team and it's a job to find any real areas to exploit," counters opposite number Mick Galwey.

So the race to claim the underdog status is well and truly on as the two teams shape up for the Heineken Cup final showdown of all showdowns.

"Munster have a solid and uncompromising pace of forwards but I don't think their back line is given the credit it deserves - and that could be dangerous," said two-times Lions captain Johnson.

"No doubt about it, this is going to be far from easy."

And with Munster arriving in the final after beating Castres Olympique in the Beziers semi-final, Johnson added: "Wins on French soil do not come easily, or very often, and, when they do, you have to take notice of them. We will be facing Munster after a win like that and their confidence will not have been harmed in the slightest."

Dean Richards, the Tigers team manger weighs in with "we have not come across them in any competition and because of that there will be a certain amount of trepidation on our part.

"They have strengths in some areas that we do not have - and vice versa. In some respects they are a side we will fear."

Galwey added: "The Millennium Stadium is one hell of a place to play and the atmosphere on the day should be unbelievable.

"Our supporters are simply magnificent and we are so grateful for the lift they give us. No matter where we go to play they are there in their numbers.
"And we need them again on Saturday because Leicester's record speaks for itself - they are a great side who know all about what it takes to win this tournament."

Meanwhile, Munster coach Declan Kidney is desperate to sign off after his last match in charge of the province with the trophy before joining the Ireland coaching staff.

"The Heineken Cup has been an incredible experience for me from start to finish," he said. "The nature of the competition means that the further you get, the more you leave your area and the interest in what you're doing heightens all the time.

"You end up living it, rather than playing or coaching it, literally living the competition and the experience.

"I have so many memories of the different games and occasions - I truly treasure all my videos. Now is not really the time to look back but when I do, it wouldn't take long for it all to come flooding back.

"The game is just half of it, the other half being everything that goes with it - the excitement, the elation and the disappointments.

"Certainly as a coach, as for a player, you like to think you're improving all the time and the competitive nature of the Heineken Cup means you really have no option other than to keep learning. Now for the Millennium Stadium - a first for me - and I am looking forward to experiencing that.

"As for the ending, I think as long as we play to our ability with honesty and endeavour, I will go out on a high whatever the result. That is all I ever ask. There is no substitute for hard work and the first thing is that you have to be in contention. Once you are in contention luck can play its part on the day so we will be hoping for a bit of that this time around."