Stade Francais make it over the halfway line on a very muddy looking pitch, and they're moving the ball with freedom.

That is until Peter Betham intercepts! 

Matt Dawson
2003 World Cup winner on BBC Radio 5 live

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"I can feel the vibrations in the stand. You can feel it on the pitch when you play here at Leicester and it’s really quite intimidating."

Nigel Owens blows his whistle and we're off.

Sergio Parisse and Matthew Tait lead out the teams. The 26,000-strong crowd roar.

For those not watching in colour, Stade Francais play in the brightest, boldest, brashest pink shade you'll see. And the fans are decked out in neon fuchsia as well.

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Stade Francais aren't doing a very good job of defending their Top 14 title this season.

They're currently 12th in the league, with 32 points from 20 games. The Chelsea of French rugby, if you like.

But they qualified for the Champions Cup quarters after finishing second in Pool Four behind Leicester, whom they beat in Paris in round six.

Leicester remain in their usual top-four position in the Premiership, and qualified for the European quarter-finals after winning Pool Four.

They lost only once on the way - against Stade in Paris - and are looking for their first semi-final appearance since 2008-09 season, when they lost in the final against Leinster. 

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Stade Francais chose Springbok Morne Steyn over France's Jules Plisson at fly-half.

Julien Dupuy, who played for Leicester for two seasons from 2008, plays at scrum-half on his return to Welford Road. 

Stade Francais XV: Djibril Camara; Waisea Vuidarvuwalu, Geoffrey Doumayrou, Jonathan Danty, Jeremy Sinzelle; Morne Steyn, Julien Dupuy; Zurabi Zhvania, Remi Bonfils, Rabah Slimani, Hugh Pyle, Alexandre Flanquart, Jonathan Ross, Raphael Lakafia, Sergio Parisse.

Replacements: Craig Burden, Dany Priso, Paul Alo Emile, Paul Gabrillagues, Willem Alberts, Julien Tomas, Jules Plisson, Hugo Bonneval.

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Brendon O'Connor, Lachlan McCaffrey and Mike Fitzgerald form a new Leicester back row, with all three returning to full fitness. 

Full-back Mathew Tait captains the Tigers this afternoon. 

Leicester XV: Mathew Tait; Telusa Veainu, Peter Betham, Manu Tuilagi, Vereniki Goneva; Freddie Burns, Ben Youngs; Marcos Ayerza, Harry Thacker, Dan Cole, Dom Barrow, Graham Kitchener, Mike Fitzgerald, Brendon O'Connor, Lachlan McCaffrey.

Replacements: Greg Bateman, Logovi'i Mulipola, Fraser Balmain, Ed Slater, Tom Croft, Sam Harrison, Owen Williams, Adam Thompstone.

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BBC Radio 5 live is bringing you live coverage of the game from Welford Road, along with BBC Radio Leicester.

Click the live coverage tab on this page, or click here. 

We were treated to some brilliant games in Saturday's quarter-finals, especially at the Ricoh Arena.

Wasps came from 13 points behind to secure a semi-final berth with the last kick of the game against poor old Exeter. 

And there looked like a shock on the cards when unbeaten Saracens were behind at home to Northampton in the second game of the day. But the reigning Premiership champions pulled it back to scrape through to the last four. 

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So, we've got one European semi-final in the diary. Step forward Saracens and Wasps.

Now it's time for the French lads to try and join in on the action, as Leicester welcome Top 14 champions Stade Francais in the third quarter-final, before Racing 92 battle it out with reigning champs Toulon.

I can only hope for more of the same after Saturday's drama...

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