Albion gear up for visit of European champions
Leinster are the current European champions, having beaten Leicester in the Heineken Cup final at Murrayfield in May.
Although the Irish side will not be fielding their all-conquering cup team, as most of them are away on international duty, Dawe feels with their strength in depth they will still bring a side packed with talent.
"It is a very big game for us," said Dawe, who pointed out that Leinster are to rugby what Barcelona are in football.
"We are going to have to be at our very best to compete.
"They are the current European champions and their side is likely to be full of future Irish internationals.
"Hopefully, rugby fans in the region will take the chance to watch some of the best young players in Ireland.
"They are a club that have produced probably the best players in the British Isles over the last 10 years."
Eight of Ireland's squad that drew with Australia at the weekend were from Leinster, including inspirational captain Brian O'Driscoll.
Dawe feels his side could find themselves coming up against young pretenders to O'Driscoll's crown.
Leinster have named a squad of 22 for the match and, as well as many of their talented youngsters, it includes a number of first team squad players.
Ireland international lock Trevor Hogan, Australian A and former Bath back Shaun Berne, Ireland A players Ronan McCormack, Simon Keogh, Stephen Keogh, Eoin O'Malley and their new South African hooker Richardt Strauss will all travel to Plymouth.
Leinster have described their squad for the opening British and Irish Cup as 'an exciting blend of youth and experience'.
The British and Irish Cup sees the 12 Championship sides battle it out with the top six teams from the Welsh Principality Premiership, Irish provinces Munster, Leinster and Ulster and three Scottish sides.
The 24 teams are split into four pools of six, with Albion in the same group as Leinster, Newport, Exeter, Cornish Pirates and Scottish Academy side Gael Force.
Albion play Leinster this Saturday and Newport away the following Friday with the three remaining pool matches in February and March.
This Saturday's match against Leinster kicks off at 4.30pm, instead of the usual time of 3pm, to avoid clashing with the autumn internationals.
Albion will be showing the England versus New Zealand match on big screens before their own game.
Leinster squad (to face Albion): Forwards: Mark Flanagan, Jason Harris-Wright, Trevor Hogan, Stephen Keogh, Stewart Maguire, Ronan McCormack, Jack McGrath, Ciaran Ruddock, Rhys Ruddock, Dominic Ryan, Paul Ryan, Richardt Strauss.
Backs: Shaun Berne, Andrew Conway, David Kearney, Michael Keating, Simon Keogh, Brendan Macken, Ian McKinley, Niall Morris, Paul O'Donohoe, Eoin O'Malley.
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