The Millennium Stadium in Cardiff will host the eagerly anticipated Heineken Cup Final between holders Leicester Tigers and Munster where tickets are not surprisingly like gold dust.

A carnival atmosphere will welcome the 74,000 capacity crowd to the streets of the Welsh capital and the general consensus is that we can expect a classic final that has many mouth-watering aspects.

Munster manager Declan Kidney has declared that there is no room for sentiment despite as he goes into his last game in charge of the men from Thomond Park.

Kidney and right-hand man Niall O'Donovan will leave for full-time posts as assistant coaches to Ireland's Eddie O'Sullivan following the game on Saturday but that is the last thing on his mind.

"The fact that it's my last game is a nothing now," Kidney said. "It can't be anything now. If it was I'd be selfish because it would mean taking away from the players everything they've been striving for.

"Sentiment plays no part in it and it certainly can't win you a match. I've not considered it, you can't. If I were doing that then I wouldn't be doing the job.

An army of fans are sure to make this final atmosphere even more memorable than Munster's last appearance in the final at Twickenham two years ago when they were narrowly edged out by the boot of Northampton's Paul Grayson.

Munster's preparation have been blighted by injuries but Kidney is no believer in complaining.

Munster have concerns of their own as a punishing season takes its toll. Australian flanker Jim Williams, who missed the semi-final victory over Castres Olympique with a torn calf muscle, played the first 40 minutes of a behind closed doors training match and could now be in the frame.

But lock Paul O'Connell (ankle ligaments), No 8 Anthony Foley (shoulder) and wing Anthony Horgan (shoulder) continue to face races against time to prove their fitness.

He is also aware of the challenge the Tigers will produce on match-day.

"You just accept that they're going to challenge you in every single facet of play. That's what you would expect of a top team. So, when you know you're going to be challenged everywhere you're better off trying to get all your parts right."

The Tigers are out to become the forst club to successfully defend Europe's premier club rugby competiton, but their preparation were dealth a blow with defeat at the hands to Bristol in the Zurich Championship last weekend.

"We have a habit of winning the big games, which is not a bad habit to have,'' commented team manager Dean Richards. "I'm not saying Saturday wasn't big, but next Saturday is far bigger.
Richards was also keen to question Munster's temperament on the big occasion.

"We were in the same situation last year. In some respects, whereas Munster have frozen on a couple of occasions, we have not. I'd probably be more concerned with freezing than anything."

Richards hopes captain Martin Johnson and Neil Back, who both missed the match through illness, Tim Stimpson (ankle), Geordan Murphy (dead leg) and Darren Garforth (calf) will all be fit.

The game will also be stalwart prop Peter Clohessy's last appearance in the Munster red after 15 years of service. The player, who along with Mick Galwey eptiomises all that is Munster rugby, is also keen to play down the significance of the occasion.

Martin Johnson's Leicester Tigers take on Mick Galwey's Munster in the swansong contest for prop Peter Clohessy and coach Declan Kidney, the latter joining the Irish coaching staff.

"I haven't really thought about it being my last game but it has been a fantastic experience to be part of Munster for the past 15 years. There are some great young players coming through and I have no doubt that the future of Munster rugby is in good hands.

"We must obviously respect Leicester because they are a great team and, once you're in the knock-out stages of this tournament, you have to respect everybody. But we have to believe that we are a great team too because if we perform well, we have every chance.

Munster are one of only three teams to reach two Heineken Cup finals - Leicester Tigers, there for a third time, and Brive the others and 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.

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."

Both teams are agreed that the Millennium Stadium is a fitting venue for such an eagerly anticipated showpiece, so let's hope they can oblige the capacity crowd and the millions of viewers at home with a fitting finale.