Ulster scrum-half John Cooney is relishing his high-profile shootout with Antoine Dupont in Saturday's Heineken Champions Cup last-16 first leg showdown with Toulouse (3.15pm).
Dupont is the current world player of the year and also picked up the Six Nations MVP award after helping France secure the Grand Slam.
The 25-year-old, who touched down for a try in a 30-24 win over Ireland in February, will be a major threat at Stadium de Toulouse.
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And Cooney accepts Ulster will have to “negate” his opposite number’s influence if they are to record a positive result ahead of next week’s return leg in Belfast.
“I’ve locked horns with Dupont a couple of times and he’s an incredible player,” he said.
“I have watched him a lot lately in the Six Nations and we all know what he can do. He can pull things out of nothing so I will be trying to negate him in whatever way I can.
“If we can contain him a little bit better than other teams have done, it would be a plus.”
Asked if there are any weaknesses to exploit in Dupont’s explosive game, Cooney replied: “I’m not going to say anything to give him any fuel!
“His defensive game is unbelievable and he doesn’t get as much credit for that as he should because his attacking game is so good.
“He can also kick the ball a long way for a smaller guy. He is an incredible player but if we concentrate too much on him we could also leave space elsewhere.”
That’s the danger against a creative French backline that also includes fellow Grand Slam winning out-half Romain Ntmack and elusive full-back Thomas Ramos.
Although Cooney believes Ulster’s last two games in South Africa, albeit two defeats to the Stormers and Bulls, will have them battle hardened for the test.
“I do think it was actually very good prep,” he said. “The temperatures we were playing and training in over there and also the altitude.
“South African teams are also quite similar to the way the French play with a very physical pack, good kicking half backs and dangerous threats out wide.”
On a knockout round in Europe being decided on aggregate over two legs, Cooney said: “It’s definitely unusual and I’ve never played in a game like this before.
“The aggregate score is going to be interesting and the decisions are going to be a little bit different and more tactical throughout the game.
“You’re going to think a little bit more whether you go for tries or take the points.”
Winger Robert Baloucoune, who missed both games in South Africa, returns to McFarland’s starting XV, while Ben Moxham makes his first European start on the other wing.
ULSTER: Lowry; Baloucoune, Hume, McCloskey, Moxham; Burns, Cooney; O'Sullivan, Herring, Moore; O'Connor, Henderson; Marcus Rea, Timoney, Vermeulen.
TOULOUSE: Ramos; Mallia, Holmes, Ahki, Lebel; Ntamack, Dupont; Netil, Mauvaka, Aldegheri; RO Arnold, Meafou; Elstadt, Flament, Cros.
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