The only players not considered for selection due to injury were Simon Miall and Josh Taumalolo, both of whom are expected to be back in full training very shortly.

"We know that we face a very difficult task over the two legs," said NEC Harlequins' Chief Executive Mark Evans. "Brive are clearly a very good team. They are top of their pool in the French league and got to the Semi Finals of the Challenge Sud Radio Cup before losing to Bourgoin. Having been promoted from Division two last season the current Brive team have a good scrum and driving line-out with Alain Penaud - who is enjoying an Indian summer - running the whole show. He is a wonderfully gifted player, as I saw first hand when he was with Saracens, and he has some exciting young backs outside him."

Penaud captained Brive to Heineken Cup final glory in Cardiff in 1997 and is still going strong in a Brive side rapidly regaining their place in the French hierarchy.

"We well remember their ground for the sheer size of the place and their passionate supporters," said Evans. "And we were a bit fortunate that day, a Will Greenwood try getting us out from under the cosh.

"We rate the Parker Pen Challenge Cup highly in its own right - there are only so many competitions with the opportunities to win a trophy. On top of that, winning the Parker Pen Challenge Cup is another avenue to qualify for the following Heineken Cup tournament."