Ryan has named Ryan Lamb at fly-half for the Bourgoin contest

Ryan told BBC Sport: "Playing them in their backyard is probably the most difficult challenge in rugby.

"This game is probably one of our most difficult so far and this is the first real challenge where we're going to have to go away and get some points.

"They're serious challengers in the French league and they're taking the Heineken Cup very seriously."

Interview: Dean Ryan talks to Matthew Pick

That has not always been the case with Bourgoin, who qualified for their sixth successive campaign after a sixth-placed finish in France's Top 14 last season.

In two of their previous three European adventures they have failed to pick up a win and have lost their last 15 games on the road in the Heineken Cup.

606: DEBATE Hopefully we will see our 'best' tight 5 at Bourgoin - I have no doubt that they can mix it with the best scotinglos

But the French at home are, in Ryan's own words, "a very different proposition".

"They have a huge psyche about the intensity that they play in front of their home crowd," he added.

"I don't understand their away form. It's difficult to understand how a player goes from one week being a superstar and the next week not, but it does happen.

"But if we can compete physically then I believe we can get something out of the game."

This term Bourgoin have picked up a losing bonus point at Opsreys and beaten Ulster at home to sit second in Pool Two behind the Cherry and Whites.

They are sixth in the Top 14 after four games, having lost once, and boast the third best defence behind leaders Toulouse and Perpignan.

But Guinness Premiership and Pool Two pacesetters Gloucester can take heart from the fact that their hosts have the joint weakest attack in French domestic rugby.

BOURGOIN IN EUROPE Home: They have won 50% of their 22 matches Away: They have won just once, at Sale in 2002 They have failed to make the last eight of the Heineken Cup in any of the last five seasons

And a third successive win will put Gloucester on the verge of going through, particularly with travel-sick Bourgoin to come at Kingsholm in the second match of this double header on Saturday 15 December.

But Ryan, who is prone to pointing out his team are still learning how to play Heineken Cup rugby and maturing nicely as they appreciate they do not have a responsibility to play all the rugby in European games, is taking nothing for granted.

And a leaf through the history books shows why.

Gloucester are one of only two teams since the competition went to six pools in 1999 to win their opening three games and fail to make the last eight. Bourgoin are the other.

"We've played two and won two, but you have to keep things in perspective," added Ryan.

"If we don't get something out of the next two matches that changes completely.

"That's what the Heineken Cup does. The pool doesn't go away until the last fixture and we've got to keep winning to ensure when we get to the last fixture we've got something to play for."