Perpignan captain Nicolas Mas has admitted his team will start as underdogs for their make-or-break Heineken Cup semi-final against Northampton Saints.

The star-studded English outfit have the considerable advantage of playing on home turf - although the game has been moved to Stadium MK, in Milton Keynes - and they also have a 100% record in the tournament so far this season.

Heineken Cup 2010/11 Results and Tables

Perpignan are the only non-winners left in this season's Heineken Cup, but after last weekend's league drubbing by Toulon they know they will have to break their duck to ensure their presence in next season's competition.

That should be incentive enough for the Catalans, but skipper Mas said they will travel with less pressure than was on them for their quarter-final clash - which was also against Toulon.

That match was, memorably, held in Barcelona and was the culmination of a lifetime's ambition for club president Paul Goze. The enormity of the occasion appeared to weigh heavily on the Perpignan players for the first 40 minutes of that match, but they turned it around after the break as they were roared on by more than 40,000 passionate Catalan fans at the impressive Estadi Olympic.

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"The quarter-final in Barcelona was something that we had been waiting to do for such a long time," admitted Mas. "That meant we had a lot of pressure on our shoulders, so to come out as the winners was such an achievement and a delight for the players, coaches and fans. Anything can happen now in the Heineken Cup and we will do our utmost to go all the way and have no regrets," he erc.com.

Perpignan were beaten finalists (by Stade Toulousain) in 2003 and this will be their third semi-final appearance. Mas said their relative inexperience at this level meant they would be "highly motivated" for their weekend clash, but he knows they face a daunting challenge to make it through to the Millennium Stadium final.

"Just like ourselves, Northampton Saints are a very physical outfit, especially up front with their captain Dylan Hartley and other internationals in their powerful pack. They they have other English aces in their backs like Ben Foden and Chris Ashton, so we are in for a really tough contest," said Mas.

Mas has been a virtual ever-present for Perpignan (and France) this season, and Sunday's game will be his 26th of an exhausting campaign for the Catalans. The 30-year-old did, however, get a rest last weekend for the league defeat by Toulon. Now he is raring to lead his team to European glory.

"It will be a big challenge for us to go and play there [Stadium:MK] but we will go there armed with a huge appetite and strong ambitions because we want to do well, and you don't get involved in matches like this every day," he said.

Winning the Heineken Cup would not only be a massive achievement for the players, but also the crowing glory for head coach Jacques Brunel in his final season with Perpignan before succeeding Nick Mallet as Italy coach.

Brunel has already landed the club's first French championship in 54 years - when they beat Clermont Auvergne in 2009 - and now he has the opportunity to add European glory to his already impressive CV.

Northampton were Heineken Cup champions in 2000 but former All Black Bruce Reihana said they would not be underestimating the pedigree and determination of Perpignan's squad.

"Any side you meet in the last four are going to be at the top of their game, and Perpignan are no different. We watched their quarter-final and they are a class outfit," he said. Reihana believes the standard of the Heineken Cup is "almost Test match level", but said the fact they were playing the match in Milton Keynes was a huge boost.

"Our support is fantastic. They follow us everywhere and they certainly give you the lift you need. It's going to be tough, but playing at home has to be an advantage and we have to go into the semi-final with confidence.

"There is a good feeling around the town and we are all just waiting for the game to kick-off. The excitement is building and we know we have a very capable squad," added the veteran international.