Ireland fly-half Ronan O'Gara insists Munster's desire for more Heineken Cup success remains strong as the champions prepare to launch their title defence.
"This has been and will continue to be a fantastic competition for us," said O'Gara, a key figure in the province's triumphs in 2006 and again last season.
"I think it gets better each year, and we have a new stadium and new coaches.
"They are Australians so their standards are very high. The ambition is still there among the players."
Tony McGahan, who was defence coach under former director of rugby Declan Kidney, has taken over the top job at the province.
And he has already made his mark, with Munster winning all five of their opening Magners League games, which O'Gara admits, "is probably the first time we have treated that competition seriously".
"History has shown that it is more difficult to defend the Heineken Cup than it is to win it in the first place"Last week's win over Glasgow was the first since their Thomond Park fortress in Limerick was redeveloped to a new 26,500 capacity.
"It is a little bit strange at the minute because we are not used to playing there, so we are not sure how that will affect us," O'Gara told BBC Radio 5 Live.
"It will be difficult to replace the atmosphere at the old stadium but with 26,000 there I am confident that our hard-core fans will be making themselves heard," added the fly-half, who is the Heineken Cup's all-time record points scorer by a distance with 954.
"We have had some bad days in the Heineken Cup as well but once you have experienced those you know how to celebrate the good days.
"Fortunately that has how it has been for the team these last few years."
606: DEBATEMunster are bidding to become only the second team, after Leicester (in 2002), to defend their title, while Toulouse are the only side to have ever won the competition three times.
"History has shown that it is more difficult to defend the Heineken Cup than it is to win it in the first place," said new boss McGahan.
"And if you look any further forward than the group stages, then you do that at your peril.
"Once again, we are in a really tough pool, and initially we will split the fixtures up into three blocks of two each, and then break those down to one game at a time and plan our preparations match by match."
Munster, who beat Biarritz (2006) and Toulouse (2008) in their two final victories, will again face strong French opposition this year.
Last year's French Championship finalists Clermont Auvergne, who Munster beat 36-13 in Limerick in last year's group stages before claiming a vital bonus point in a 26-19 defeat in France, will present another big threat to their hopes in the pool stages.
The champions also face English side Sale, who capitulated 31-9 on their last visit to Thomond Park in early 2006, and another French outfit in Montauban, currently 10th in France's Top 14, who are Munster's opening opponents on Friday.
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