Harlequins wing Cadan Murley says his side have to play with bravery when they start their Investec Champions Cup campaign at Leinster on Saturday (17:30 GMT).
Quins head to Aviva Stadium in Dublin for their opening Pool 3 game having lost four of their six Prem matches so far this season and all four Prem Cup pool fixtures.
Four-time winners Leinster have reached the Champions Cup’s last four in each of the past five seasons, losing in the finals in 2022, 2023 and 2024.
However, the defending URC champions have lost three of their opening six league matches this term – more defeats than they suffered across the whole of last season.
Murley, 26, scored his first try of the campaign in Saturday’s defeat at Gloucester and says Quins should not be written off before the game has even begun at a stadium where he dotted down on his England debut in February’s Six Nations loss.
He told BBC Radio London: “I remember reading an article before we went over to Bordeaux [in April 2024] and everyone said ‘they haven’t lost at home in however long, there’s no way Quins are going to be able to do this’ – we went over and did it [Quins clinched a thrilling 42-41 win to reach the semi-finals for the first time].
“It’s the challenge. You sign up to be a professional rugby player, you want to play in these big games, you want to play against the best, you want to beat the best, that’s how we’ve got to sell it.
“We all believe we are good enough to put a performance in, bring your best, if everyone can get to a seven or eight out of 10 then it puts us in good stead.”
Murley admitted Quins cannot expect to impose themselves on Leinster in every facet of the game but says bravery in possession might prove the difference.
“The mantra we have used in Europe before is ‘swing the bat’,” he said.
“You can’t go to these teams, especially the likes of Leinster, and expect to bully them and impose your physicality necessarily.
“You have got to be brave, you have got to pull the chances, you’ve got to throw that pass if it’s a 60-40, you have got to be brave in these situations, that’s the mindset we have tried to impose all week and we’re trying to bring to this game.”
