Leicester head for a mugging in Neath's heart of darkness

Lyn Jones describes it as "a massive event in our history", which sounds deeply impressive until you realise the former international flanker is talking about Neath, where an event of any size takes on an importance out of all proportion to its actual merit. But Jones can be forgiven his hyperbole on this occasion. Leicester, the European champions, visit The Gnoll this evening to kick-start another Heineken Cup tournament, and the effect of a Welsh victory over an English foe at this precise moment in time would be felt way beyond the town limits.

If the game in the Principality has a beating heart, it beats at The Gnoll. Some would call it a heart of darkness, for Neath teams of yesteryear – particularly those boasting Brian Williams, Kevin Phillips and Phil Pugh in the hard-case department – embraced the "whatever it takes" philosophy with a degree of relish that bordered on the criminal. There again, Welsh rugby is in a "whatever it takes" kind of situation these days.

The mood across the bridge is fragile in the extreme: Swansea and Newport have made a horrible mess of their respective Celtic League campaigns, Cardiff are rebuilding, Llanelli have been too quiet by half. Of the Heineken Cup contingent, only Neath have stepped up to the plate. From the moment the European draw was made back in the summer, this fixture has been talked of as a nasty surprise waiting to happen, a Friday night out for rugby's muggers. Should Leicester emerge with a convincing victory, the damage to Welsh morale could be terminal.

Hence Jones' determination to crank up the heat to boiling point. "Leicester will come here expecting to win, and that over-confidence may serve us well," said the coach, who has re-established Neath's position at the top end of the Welsh game, much to the embarrassment of those rivals who considered them unworthy of élite status and made no mention of them when they tabled proposals for a six-club élite. "Let's be honest. We couldn't ask for more from the draw than to get the champions first game out, and at home too.

"Our recruitment in the summer was planned with this tournament in mind; everything has been geared around doing well. In the past, we never had a squad strong enough to go anywhere in the Heineken, but we feel that this year, we have the size, strength and speed to compete with the top French and English teams. Last weekend, we were hoping for a win against a Munster side that took Leicester all the way in last season's final. We didn't get that win, unfortunately, but we learned a great deal from our defeat. Besides, there is more bite to this match than the one with Munster. It's Wales versus England, I suppose."

Neath must do without three of their top-of-the-bill acts: the Lions centre Allan Bateman, the dangerous attacking full-back Adrian Durston and the international flanker Brett Sinkinson are all injured. Jones, a slight but venomously competitive open side in his playing days, has plumped for a heavyweight back row on this occasion. Hywel Jenkins, Alfie Mocelutu and Nathan Bonner-Evans, who bring some 54 stone to the party, have been selected at the expense of Steve Tandy, a mere slip of a lad at 15st dead.

Bristol, who make their Heineken Cup debut at Leinster this evening, have also been tinkering with their breakaway unit. Injuries to Ross Beattie, the club captain, and Matt Salter mean a call-up to the blind-side flank for the local product, Craig Short, and a move to No 8 for Ben Sturnham. There is an unfamiliar look to the front row as well, thanks to the long-term knee injury suffered by Neil McCarthy and the 10-week suspension currently being served by the England tight-head prop Julian White. Darren Crompton, Saul Nelson and Emiliano Bergamaschi will confront the Irishmen at Donnybrook.

Sale, meanwhile, feel able to leave Graeme Bond, their hot-shot Wallaby signing from Australia, in the Heywood Road stand for tonight's meeting with Philippe Saint-Andre's Bourgoin. Another player with rich Super 12 experience, the former England prop Kevin Yates, is also surplus to requirements, although he has been granted a seat on the bench.

The London Irish flanker James Cockle was last night handed a four-week ban by the Rugby Football Union following his sending off in a Zurich Premiership match at Sale last Saturday.

Cockle, a second-half substitute, had only been on the field for five minutes when he was dismissed for stamping by the referee Huw Watkins. His suspension takes immediate effect and he will miss two Heineken Cup games and two Premiership fixtures.

There was better news for Cockle's team-mate Michael Horak, who won his appeal against a yellow card imposed during the victory over Saracens last month.