WASPS legend Rob Howley returns to the club for the first time since his retirement last year admitting he goes back with a sense of fear.

Howley, who scored Wasps' Heineken Cup winning try against Toulouse in 2004, is a coach with tonight's Powergen Cup opponents Cardiff Blues and admits it will be an uphill struggle if his old club hits top-form.

He told the Free Press: "I am coming back with a sense of trepidation.

"We Cardiff have been playing well but we are up against the in-form team of Europe for the last three years.

"They are an excellent side. There aren't any weaknesses. We need to over-perform and hope they have an off-day."

He has spent the last seven days plotting the downfall of his former team-mates and even a call from his old pal Lawrence Dallaglio hasn't dampened his enthusiasm as he dreams of returning to Wales with a famous win.

He said: "Lawrence phoned me to tell me that he would be playing and I think that is great for our lads. They want to test themselves against the best players and I think playing against him will help them raise our game.

"He is an icon. I know what he can bring to a side. He can get an extra 15 per cent from the people around him. He's a leader and it is great to see him back and our players will be looking forward to it even more. Playing against the best brings out the best in people."

Howley's phone has been buzzing this week with calls from his old Wasps colleagues Fraser Waters, Alex King, Tom Voyce and Stuart Abbott.

And Howley, who won the European Cup, two Premiership titles and the Parker Pen Cup in his two years at Wasps, has warned them that there will be no old pals act when the talking stops and the Battle of Britain begins at 7.40pm tonight.

Howley said: "It would be nice to put one over on them and that's what we are trying to work to.

"We've got some of the British Lions players coming back and we will be very committed. We will try and upset them in the tackle and try and put pressure on them in the right areas.

"This game isn't about me. It is about Cardiff Blues. There will always be a part of my heart in High Wycombe. Once a Wasp always a Wasp but I'm working at Cardiff now and it is all about trying to get a result for them."