Nigel Davies says there is still a lot for the Scarlets to play for in Europe

Scarlets boss Nigel Davies says they will travel to Toulon for their Amlin Challenge Cup quarter-final confident of claiming victory.

England fly-half Jonny Wilkinson is among the players lying in wait for the Welsh region in France.

But in the wake of the 20-17 Heineken Cup win in Brive, Davies is buoyant.

He said: "Our team has had great away experiences in this season's Heineken Cup so there will be a certain amount of belief within our group."

The Scarlets also won at London Irish in Europe's top tier tournament, but suffered badly at the hands of reigning champions Leinster in back-to-back defeats.

As well as 2003 World Cup winner Wilkinson, Toulon include ex-Cardif Blue Jamie Robinson in their ranks.

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Also in the welcoming party could be Scotland's Rory Lamont - brother of the Scarlets' Sean.

Toulon ended their Challenge Cup pool stage with a 42-10 win over Castres.

Davies said: "It is going to be a challenge to go there, playing French teams in their home grounds is never easy and Toulon are a quality side with a big-budget playing squad and some very good players - so it will be difficult.

"Saying that, our team has had great away experiences in this season's Heineken Cup campaign and so there will be a certain amount of belief within our group that we can get a result.

"We've just encountered what it can be like to play French sides at home and I'm sure, like Brive, there will be a passionate French crowd, plenty of exciting rugby and a team fiercely defending a strong home record.

To now be in a position where we are a couple of games away from a final in Europe is a massive achievement Nigel Davies

"Winning away from home is all about belief and the desire to win and that is what our group of players has shown both at London Irish and Brive, who also have good home records."

"The result on Saturday was great effort by the team - particularly the younger players who really stood up to the pressure Brive put on us.

"We are just delighted to be in the quarter-finals of a European competition and will be looking forward to the quarter-final in April.

"From where we have come from in year one of our rebuilding process, to now be in a position where we are a couple of games away from a final in Europe is a massive achievement for this squad.

"We've come back from mid-December with three back-to-back wins and I've been proud of how the boys have performed recently and are developing as a group."

Cardiff Blues travel to Newcastle as the other Welsh team in the lower-tier tournament following their 45-20 win over Harlequins at The Stoop on Sunday.

AMLIN CHALLENGE CUP QUARTER-FINALS (to be played April 9-11):

Connacht v Bourgoin
Newcastle v Cardiff Blues
Toulon v Scarlets
Wasps v Gloucester

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