French international Frédéric Michalak believes his beloved four-time Heineken Cup champions Stade Toulousain face their sternest challenge yet when they begin the defence of their 2009/10 title.

The recuperating fly-half was speaking out at the launch of this year's tournament in Cardiff - where the final will be held - when he admitted: "There are no easy groups and we will have to start well in this competition. We must win our first game against London Wasps and get momentum."

The 27-year-old is currently recovering from knee ligament surgery but has recently begun training again after a lengthy lay-off. Clearly the prospect of playing in Europe's premier club competition is helping drive him back into action, and the multi-talented back - who can play at either scrum or fly-half - is relishing the prospect of adding to Toulouse's record four titles.

"I think the Heineken Cup is the best competition for the club," he told ercrugby.com. "All the best players and clubs are in this tournament and every club is capable of winning it.

"For Toulouse we want to do well in both the Heineken Cup and the Top 14 as we always try to be the best team around every single year. To win the Heineken Cup again last year was amazing and the supporters were great. Our supporters love the team and they support us whether we win or lose. But it will be tough again this year," added Michalak.

Heineken Cup Pools & Fixtures

Stade Toulousain beat Biarritz in last year's all-French final, but their biggest challenge this season could come from another Top 14 club - current champions Clermont Auvergne.

'Les Jaunards' finally broke their domestic hoodoo last season and are now looking to transfer that form into the Heineken Cup under the on-field leadership of Aurélien Rougerie. "I hope we can make the step up from champions of France to champions of Europe," he said.

Clermont were unlucky to lose to Leinster in last year's quarter-final but their French Top 14 triumph should give them added confidence going into this season's tournament. They will come face-to-face with Leinster again in the group stages, along with Saracens and in-form French side Racing-Métro, but Rougerie said there was quality throughout the tournament.

"It is an extremely demanding competitions and it is going to be very difficult. Every team I have played against in the tournament has been a good side - the Heineken Cup is the top level of rugby but we are a good side and we have to believe in ourselves," added the international winger.

Heineken Cup champions Stade Toulousain will begin the defence of their crown with a home clash against two-time winners London Wasps. Both teams are in Pool 6, alongside Glasgow Warriors and Newport Gwent Dragons, with Toulouse looking to defend the title they won by beating fellow French side Biarritz 21-19 in last season's final.

Biarritz start their 2010/11 campaign with a tricky trip to Bath in Pool 4, while Catalan giants Perpignan are away to Welsh outfit Scarlets in Pool 5.

Current French champions Clermont Auvergne start off with a home game against English side Saracens in Pool 3 - the same group as Racing-Métro 92, one of two French newcomers to Europe's premier club competition.

Racing open up with a trip to Ireland to take on Leinster - the 2008/9 champions - before their second round match pits them at home to Clermont on October 16th in a mouth-watering all-French clash.

Toulon are the other French side making their Heineken Cup bow this season with the likes of Jonny Wilkinson, Carl Hayman and Paul Sackey getting their group matches underway with a home game against the Ospreys on October 9th in Pool 3.

Toulon will be relieved to start with a home game at their fortress-like Stade Félix Mayol ground - where they remained unbeaten last season - especially as Pool 3, which also features London Irish and Munster, has been labelled the 'group of death'.

Castres are also in this season's competition, after finishing fifth in Top 14, and they travel to take on Northampton Saints in their opening Pool 1 fixture.