The French club are unlikely to qualify for the Heineken Cup via a league place, meaning the Challenge Cup represents their only realistic chance of winning a place in the top European tournament.

The former England international admits Biarritz's inconsistency is a source of great frustration, stating unforced errors and turnovers are doing nothing to aid the cause.

"We are unlikely to make the top six (league) places and qualify for the Heineken Cup that way, so that makes the Amlin Challenge Cup a

massively-important competition for us," explained Balshaw.

"The incentive for us is that we are three games - albeit three very hard games - away from a trophy, and that trophy also provides the winner with the gateway into next season's Heineken Cup.

"We have had a tremendously frustrating season so far because of our inconsistency, and that has shown in both our performances and results.

"Those unforced errors and turnovers have been killing us because if you give away around 12 of those chances then your opponents will take at least some of them and punish you with points.

"However, when we get our game spot-on we can compete with anyone."