STUART Hooper has no doubts that Bath Rugby are capable of toppling Toulon when they travel to take on the three-time European champions this weekend.

Bath kick-off a triple header of huge continental clashes at Stade Mayol on Sunday, facing Toulon in a fixture re-arranged from November.

Next week they are away at Irish giants Leinster before hosting Toulon in the return match the following weekend as they look to reach the European Champions Cup knockout stages.

Toulon have proved a formidable force in Europe in recent years, becoming the first team to be crowned champions three years in a row, but Bath club captain Hooper believes his team can upset the odds.

“I know we can win the game. We’re not going there to roll over, we see it as an opportunity for us to go there and win,” said Hooper.

“There’s no doubt that they are a quality side with a world-class player in every position, if not two, but when you get out on the pitch it’s 15 guys against another 15 guys and we’ve got a every chance of getting the win.

“As players it’s amazingly exciting to have the opportunity to play against these international stars.

“I haven’t played international rugby but getting the chance to face players and a team like that alongside your mates in a Bath jersey is fantastic.

“Fixtures like this is why we play the game, it’s going to be exciting. It’s one of those games that stand out when the fixture list comes out at the start of the year that you can’t wait for and are desperate to play in.

“We’ve done well away from home in Europe in the past and the players all bottle those experiences to try to use them for next time.”

Bath have enjoyed far from perfect preparations for the trip to France, handing Newcastle Falcons their first Aviva Premiership win of the season last weekend when they went down 19-14 Kingston Park.

Lock Hooper is fit to return against Toulon after several weeks on the sidelines and is expecting a response from his side on Sunday.

“When you are not playing it’s very hard to watch your mates lose. It was very disappointing for them,” said Hooper.

“You can’t dwell on a result like that but you can’t brush it off either. There’s not point having those experiences if you don’t learn from them.

“The most important thing is that we get a reaction and from training on Tuesday I know there was one.”