Exeter Chiefs have achieved much during their rapid ascent into English rugby's top-flight, but their aspirations are not about to end now, according to wing Mark Foster.

The club have hit new heights this season by qualifying for the last eight of a European competition – in the Amlin Cup – for the first time in their history, while they currently lie sixth in the Premiership and within touching distance of a top-four place that would ensure participation in the end-of-season play-offs. But while there is much to be admired at Sandy Park, Foster and many others connected to the club have set their sights on becoming regular competitors in rugby's most prestigious competition – the Heineken Cup.

"Everyone's dream at the club is to play high-class Heineken Cup rugby in front of 50-60,000 people at some of the hotbeds of rugby around Europe," said Foster.

"It is a dream for all rugby players. Nine times out of ten, it is probably better to watch, better to play in, the tempo is harder and faster and the fans are so passionate. Everyone wants that dream trip away to Stade [Francais] or away to Perpignan. You want to go and play at Thomond Park [home of Munster] or somewhere like that.

"That's where everyone wants to go, to the heights of Europe and hopefully, one day, we will be able to host 20-30,000 here, sell it out and get all the Irish over and have a big party.

"Some of us were lucky enough to play in the Heineken Cup before and they recognise the potential here, which is why it is so exciting.

"For some of the young guys coming through, it is a bit of a blur and they don't really know what's happening and it was the same for me when I was 21-22."

He went on: "As you get a little bit older, you start to understand and look about and you see the individual skill and drive and determination of the players, coupled with the physical capabilities some of them have.

"The potential is limitless and coupled with the infrastructure we have got here and financial backing, we can do pretty much what we want now. It is totally in the hands of the players and if we want it, we will go and get it and we will take everything." This season, though, it is the Amlin Cup where Exeter have fared well and they find themselves looking forward to a trip to Paris to face Stade Francais in the quarter-finals in April. The French outfit are sixth in the Top 14, but possess a host of household names, which will present the Chiefs with their sternest test of the season so far.

"The guys are chomping at the bit and there is an excitement about playing in Paris," added Foster. "Let's go and test ourselves against the best in the world. They have a Who's Who of internationals from the northern and southern hemisphere and the guys want to go one-on-one with them and see how good we really are.

"I don't think anyone understands how good this club is now and we have shown already this season and last year that on our day, we can beat anybody, so let's go to France and why can't we do Stade?"

The Chiefs' best chance of qualifying for the Heineken Cup next season would be by finishing in the top five of the Aviva Premiership, although a place is up for grabs for the winners of the LV= Cup.

The Chiefs return to league action next week when they face Leicester at Sandy Park, but with the next batch of fixtures running concurrently with the Six Nations, it provides them with a glorious chance of capitalising on potential slip-ups by teams weakened by international call-ups.

"We are very lucky that Rob [Baxter] and Ali [Hepher] have put together a side that is not based on internationals," said Foster. "We do have some with the likes of Gonzalo [Camacho], Chad Slade and Junior Polo [Poluleuligaga] and we are going to lose Craig Mitchell and potentially, in the future, we will lose more guys, but this year, it is a fantastic opportunity for us.

"During the World Cup, we had a really good go and you only have to look at the result at Leicester on the first game of the season and it is there for us if we want it.

"We have such strength in depth now, such continuity and competition for places.

"We are a side that always goes out there and is competitive, and if we start dismantling teams with all these internationals, then we really will step up the ante."

For Foster though, there was a surprise that more Chiefs were not called up for either the England or the England Saxons squad recently.

Only flanker Tom Johnson got a call and was included in the Saxons squad for the recent clash with Ireland Wolfhounds.

"I think a lot of guys were quite disappointed that they didn't get England international recognition," said Foster.

"Only TJ [Tom Johnson] got in the Saxons, but the guys playing week in week out like Luke Arscott, Haydn Thomas, James Hanks, who are young English guys with a lot of Premiership games under their belts, are not being considered."