Tigers boss targets speedy recovery

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But skipper Geordan Murphy has also lauded his team's fitness levels following the history-making Heineken Cup victory over Cardiff Blues.

"A six-day turnaround is not going to help," said head coach Cockerill, after Tigers' sudden death penalty shoot-out success against the Blues. "We will have to be smart with our selection, and recovery will be key this week."

Leicester's fellow English heavyweights Bath are next up for Murphy and company in the Guinness Premiership play-offs.

A win at the Walkers Stadium next Saturday would take the Tigers into a fifth successive Twickenham grand final on May 16 - seven days before their record-equalling fifth Heineken Cup final appearance.

And while the odds might still be against them landing domestic and European titles for the first time in tandem since 2002, they are shortening daily.

Leicester's England international fly-half Toby Flood looks certain to miss the Bath clash after suffering an ankle injury that meant he played no part in the penalty lottery.

But there were no other notable fitness concerns as Tigers battled their way through 100 minutes of Millennium Stadium action that ended 26-26, then survived the penalty torture.

"Going into extra time, I was a little bit nervous," said Murphy. "But, after two minutes, I thought we looked sharp and fit and were playing all of the rugby.

"At the end of the second 10 minutes of extra-time, I wanted us to keep going and didn't want to stop. None of us cramped up, and we have worked very hard on our fitness."