Pat Lam has said his Bristol Bears side are in an “historic situation” for their Champions Cup encounter with Bordeaux Begles, with a top-seeded spot in the knockout stages up for grabs.
Bristol face the reigning champions at Ashton Gate on Sunday (13:00 GMT) in their final pool match, having won their first three games in the competition for the first time.
A place in the last 16 is already secured, following their thrilling win against the Bulls in Pretoria last weekend, but another against the French giants could see them finish top of Pool 4 and with a home advantage in the knockouts.
“We’re in a historic situation with the Bears, it’s what I dreamed about when I got here,” Lam, who has been in charge since 2017, told BBC Radio Bristol.
“There’s so much at stake but it’s great to be here in this situation.
“When I arrived here and it was Championship rugby, I said at the time I’m going to put Champions Cup on as our big ambition and everyone [said] well maybe we should just not get relegated.
“Nearly nine years later we’re in a great situation but we don’t underestimate what we’re facing.”
Bristol have twice reached the round of 16 in the competition between 2020 and 2022 but never progressed further.
This time last year they were knocked-out of all European competition following an away defeat to Clermont, winning just one of their group games.
Yet their victory at altitude in Pretoria last Saturday, in a remarkable 16-try contest – where they raced to a 21-0 lead inside seven minutes – showcased the Bears at their blistering, raucous, attacking best and means they are now unbeaten in their past seven games in the Prem and Europe.
They face a Bordeaux side who won the competition for the first time last season and have picked up maximum points so far this time around, including thrashing Prem leaders Northampton 50-28 last weekend.
They are also packed with French internationals including wing duo Damian Penaud and Louis Bielle-Biarrey and fly-half Matthieu Jalibert.
“That’s what I wanted for the club, for the players, to have these big games. There’s a great consequence if you get the job done,” Lam added.
“They got some quality in their team and they got some depth, we all know about the French budgets and so forth and they’re well coached too, very, very well coached.
“But that’s what you want – you want to be playing the best.”
