Leicester Tigers director of rugby Richard Cockerill has described the Aviva Premiership play-offs as a "brutal" environment.
He said a defeat at this stage of the season can be heartbreaking for any side.
Tigers travel to local rivals Northampton tomorrow night seeking an incredible 10th consecutive Grand Final appearance.
The reigning champions go into the game as underdogs, with the hosts having the all-important home advantage.
Saints also warmed up for the clash with a 74-13 romp against Wasps in the final round of the regular season.
Cockerill said if his side are to suffer the pain of defeat, it will not be through the want of trying.
"We have played 22 games and worked really hard this season," he said.
"We want to win the thing now and every side is in the same boat, whether you finish first, second, third or fourth, you want to win.
"Play-offs are brutal in the fact that you can be top of the table all season and then lose a semi or a final and that is heartbreaking.
"We have all been in those situations. We will have to see what happens tomorrow.
"We may be standing there at 80 minutes and we will have lost and we can all go on holiday. But that's not on the agenda yet."
While Saints have been around the top of the table all season, Leicester have hung in there and battled to a semi-final without ever hitting top gear.
Cockerill admits his side will have to up their game tomorrow night if they are to earn a chance to defend their crown at Twickenham in a fortnight.
"We need to play better than we have done," he said. "In any game against a good side like Northampton, we will be under pressure at some stage.
"The key is how you control that pressure. We were well ahead at their place in the league game and lost control to let them back into it. That is what we have to be wary of.
"Both sides have big players who will cause each other problems.
"It's going to be all about physicality at the gain line and the set-piece.
"Tactically, we have to be astute with their powerful forward pack.
"We like to think that we can front-up physically. No doubt they will feel the same."
Tigers have won eight out of eight semi-finals in the play-offs but only one of them has been away from home, when they beat Gloucester at Kingsholm in 2008.
