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 the Aviva Stadium in Dublin for their opening Pool 3 game having lost four of their six Prem games so far this season and all four Prem Cup pool games.
Four-time winners Leinster have made the last four in each of the past five seasons, losing in the final in 2022, 2023 and 2024, however the defending URC champions have lost three of their opening six matches in the competition this season, more than in the whole of the last campaign.
Murley scored his first try of the season in Saturday’s defeat at Gloucester and the 26-year-old says his side should not be written off before the game has even begun at a stadium where he scored a try on his England debut in a Six Nations defeat in February.
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 it was, there’s no ways Quins are going to be able to do this – we went over and did it (Quins edged to an incredible 42-41 win at Bordeaux to reach the last four for the only 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.”
