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Cardiff Blues are ready to turn the tables on Toulouse and end French interest in this season's Heineken Cup.

The Blues were bounced out of Heineken Cup contention by Toulouse last term, battered 41-17 as the three-time sEuropean champions cruised towards a fifth final appearance.

One year on though, and there are two important differences as the teams prepare for an eagerly-awaited rematch.

This time, the Blues will have a distinct advantage of popping next door to the Millennium Stadium from their Arms Park home, rather than tackling Toulouse in south-west France.

And the Welsh challengers are also a more potent force than 12 months ago, underlined by them securing quarter-final status as top seeds after marching unbeaten through Pool Six.

The Blues additionally boast some of Welsh rugby's brightest young talent, players like centre Jamie Roberts and wing Leigh Halfpenny, who enhanced their reputations in the international arena throughout the November Tests and Six Nations Championship.

And they are reasons why the Blues are fancied by many to send Toulouse crashing on Saturday, giving the Heineken Cup only its second semi-final cast in 14 seasons without a French representative.

Blues skipper Paul Tito (pictured) said: "It was a good effort by us last year to get out of our pool and make the last eight.

"But we knew we had to kick on this season, and I think we have done that.

"We stepped it up this time in the tournament and ended as the number one qualifier for the quarter-finals - only to find we are now up against the best team in the competition.

"It is going to be a tough day at the office, but we are really looking forward to what should be a great occasion, hopefully something similar to when we played Gloucester at the Millennium Stadium in the group stage.

"Toulouse are going to come over thinking they can knock us over - as they should think, because they have a great squad and their 100 Heineken Cup matches goes to underline their huge experience of playing at this level.

"They are the only French team left in the tournament, and so will be flying the flag for France and playing for their national pride.

"They are a quality team capable of producing some brilliant rugby. We are well aware of the challenge facing us."

The Blues though, have cleared every hurdle they've faced in Europe this term.

Tito's men beat 2006 Heineken Cup runners-up Biarritz in France, and then ground English heavyweights Gloucester into the Kingsholm mud despite having wing Tom James sent off during the first half.

"So far, virtually everyone has played well in the big games," acknowledged Tito.

"And we need to produce that sort of effort again, with each and every player fronting-up.

"We genuinely believe we are improving all the time, and hopefully, we will show that we have matured and are a better side since that quarter-final defeat a year ago.

"Knowing that the semi-final will be at the Millennium if we manage to qualify for the last-four is a huge carrot for us.

"But it will only remain a carrot if we perform for the full 80 minutes against the team with the best track record in the tournament.

"We have great respect for what coach Guy Noves has achieved with Toulouse. If you are not up to the job, you don't last long and are soon down the street.

"He does have a fairly healthy budget and is able to attract top players, but he has also done the business in Europe with three Heineken Cup titles.

"They have quality players throughout their side, and it is going to be a huge 80 minutes.

"Everyone involved in the match knows just what is up for grabs for the winners."

The Blues are hopeful that Halfpenny (back) and their former Toulouse wing, 100 times-capped Wales star Gareth Thomas (hamstring strain) will be fit, while flanker Martyn Williams looks set to shrug off a toe problem.And Toulouse have also had their share of injury troubles, with fly-half David Skrela (rib) the latest player to cause concern in the French camp.

SportingLife / Eurosport