As the Heineken Cup reaches the final round of pool action, we take a look at who needs to do what next weekend to qualify for the quarter-finals.
The best runners-up
With the six pool winners claiming their place in the quarter-finals automatically, the final two places will go to the two runners-up with the best records.
Initially it will be the side with the highest number of points from their pool games. If any of the sides are tied on points the places will be decided by the number of tries scored in all pool matches. If this doesn't separate the sides, then the aggregate points difference from all pool matches comes into play and then it is down to the club with the fewest number of players sent off and/or suspended in all pool matches. Should there still be a tie then a toss of the coin will decide who goes through.
Given the close nature of this season's competition, all six pools remain live in the hunt for those final spots.
Pool Six would appear to have one of the two spots in the bag - with
Toulon guaranteed a place even if they are overhauled by
Montpellier in the standings.
Montpellier, themselves, are the best placed of the sides currently in second spot in their pools having already collected 18 points - and although facing an unbeaten Toulon side will not be easy, they are still in a strong position given they have scored 15 tries already.
With top spots in Pools One and Two up for grabs, four teams are still in the mix. In Pool One,
Saracens lead the way on 18 points but will fancy their chances of claiming the group winners' place with a home win over Edinburgh. For
Munster they are on 15 points and will be targeting a bonus point win over Racing Metro, who are already out of contention, at Thomond Park. A lot will depend on Racing's ambitions, though, as a win could earn them a place in the Amlin Challenge Cup quarter-finals.
Like Saracens,
Toulouse also lead Pool Two on 18 points - however they face a crunch trip to Welford Road to tackle closet rivals
Leicester. The Tigers are on 16 points so they need victory to progress. For Toulouse, if they lose they will be hoping to pick up a bonus point or two to give them a chance of a runners up spot.
Defending champions
Leinster are in a precarious position as Clermont have wrapped up top spot in their pool. Leinster have picked up 15 points so far and will need a bonus point win over Exeter at Sandy Park to edge out some of their rivals.
That would see Leinster move to 20 points, while the best fellow hopefuls Northampton and Biarritz can hope for is 19 points.
Northampton are on 14 points and travel to Glasgow with the unenviable task of trying to win and score at least four tries. Jim Mallinder's men have managed just six tries in the pool stages this season - with only Castres managing fewer amongst the contenders for the quarter-finals.
Tries have not been an issue for
Biarritz, with the French side having scored 14 already. However they will need to continue their scoring form at home to Harlequins, who have yet to lose in this season's competition and only seen their defence breached six times in five matches.
Castres have a small mathematical chance of sneaking into the knockout stages, with 18 points the best they could secure. They entertain Ulster, though, knowing that they would need a remarkable sequence of results to go their way.
With tries being used to decide places when sides are level, expect some entertaining games this coming weekend.
