MIKE Ford has underlined the task awaiting his Bath side on their return to the top tier of European competition after declaring himself a fan of the new slimmed-down tournament.

Bath return to the continent’s elite for the first time since the 2011-12 campaign when they open their European Rugby Champions’ Cup campaign away to Glasgow tomorrow (3.15pm).

The replacement for the Heineken Cup sees 20, rather than 24, teams contesting the pool stages, with four-time Heineken winners Toulouse and French counterparts Montpellier making up Bath’s section.

The new set-up has received the thumbs-up from Ford, who said: “You look at all of the five pools and you can’t like any one over another because they are all just as tough as the next.

“Sometimes, you could look at the draw and say there were games where wins were perhaps guaranteed, but that’s not the case any more.

“It’s all on merit and it’s good to know it is the best teams in Europe.’’ He added: “(In Bath’s pool) we’re pretty much even. Toulouse have been the best team in Europe since the competition started.

“They’ve had back-to-back wins too, so they’ve turned a corner and Montpellier have been very consistent. Glasgow were top of the Pro 12 going into last weekend so it augurs well for a fantastic game this weekend.’’

Ford says any deal to bring European player of the year Steffon Armitage will be “dead’’ if the 29- year-old back row plays for Toulon in the Champions’ Cup this weekend.

The Recreation Ground club were hoping to sign Armitage from European champions Toulon until the end of the season to cover for a back row injury crisis, a move that would enable the openside flanker to challenge for a place in England’s squad for the 2015 World Cup.

However, the financial terms have proved a stumbling block and Armitage has been named in Toulon’s squad to face Scarlets on Sunday.

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