Connacht, as they are entitled to do after three initial wins, are starting to dream again, although if they beat their fellow pace-setters Narbonne in Pool A of the European Shield this afternoon then they could be in rugby fantasy land.
Two points clear of the chasing pack and with a game in hand, Connacht are already extremely well placed to earn one of the two automatic qualifying places for the quarter-finals from each of the three groups - without recourse to nailing down one of the two best third-placed qualification spots.
However, when it comes to earning a priceless home quarterfinal that's when the line between success and failure becomes rather finer - remembering that last season only a hugely controversial late try in Nice ultimately denied Connacht a home quarter-final.
As the top four seeds will play at home in the quarter-finals, Connacht will need to win their group or finish as the best of the runners-up to avoid another unwanted trip to France.
Given they have won their last three games by a point, it would be fair to say Connacht have been riding their luck a bit. Their capacity to start supinely and finish strongly remains undimmed, judging by their latest escape from 20-6 down in Rovigo. However, they'll surely not be able to overcome a similar handicap against the pick of the three French sides in this group.
Narbonne, semi-finalists in this competition two years ago, have won seven of their eight matches this season, the only blemish being a 23-19 defeat in the French championship to Pool B leaders Bourgoin.
They have a cosmopolitan mix of six internationals, despite the absence of injured Georgian prop Levan Tsabadze, although the experienced Laurent Benezech and the Romanian lock Tiberu Brinza are on the bench. Narbonne do start with the once-capped hooker Herve Guiraud as well as a couple of Italian thorns in Irish sides, the Romanian-born full back Alessandro Stoica (a try-scorer in Bologna last December) and the 45-times capped Italian captain and flanker Massimo Giovanelli.
Narbonne clearly bring eminently more class than Perigeux and unlike those and other French visitors to the Sportsground, Narbonne had the sense to fly over yesterday for their first visit to Ireland before having a run-out in `the swamp' in Claddagh.
Connacht coach Glenn Ross says he hopes for a "cold, wet and miserable afternoon", and his team's pick and go drives are well suited to those conditions.
Simon Allnutt is seemingly replacing the irreplaceable in Eric Elwood, you sense it could be one of those days when the latter's tactical acumen and kicking would be invaluable. The injury-enforced absence of the abrasive Ian Dillon could also be a big blow.
Narbonne should be favourites, but Connacht are a cussedly dogged lot. Their capacity to rise to the occasion and do just enough is becoming almost legendary. With them, it ain't over till the fat lady sings.
