Heineken Cup Pool 4: Racing Metro v Harlequins match preview

In-form Quins have notched up four successive wins in the Aviva Premiership, including a notable away success at Leicester Tigers, since their losing-bonus point defeat at Clermont back in October.

The Londoners, boosted by the returning Chris Robshaw, will have maintain that level of performance if they are to defy the history books and become the first team to lose their opening two pool games and still qualify for the knock-out stages.

Coach Conor O'Shea has announced an unchanged backline from last week's victory over Newcastle, but has made two changes up front.

With Tom Guest sidelined by injury, Nick Easter returns to his more familiar position at number eight, with captain Robshaw making his first appearance since returning from the November Internationals.

Meanwhile, Charlie Matthews comes in to partner George Robson in the second row with Nick Kennedy, available again after injury, named amongst the replacements as he looks to make his Quins debut.

British and Irish Lions scrum-half Mike Phillips will make his Racing debut off the bench having joining the French outfit on a two-and-a-half year deal earlier this week.

Jonny Sexton is also on the bench as Benjamin Dambielle starts at fly-half, while Juan Martin Hernandez is at full-back.

Racing Metro: 15 Hernandez, 14 Fall, 13 Estebanez, 12 Dumoulin, 11 Andreu, 10 Dambielle, 9 Machenaud, 8 Nailiko, 7 Le Roux, 6 Lauret, 5 Kruger, 4 Van der Merwe, 3 Ducalcon, 2 Szarzewski (capt), 1 Arous
Replacements:16 Lacombe, 17 Khinchagishvili, 18 Mujati, 19 Ghezal, 20 Gerondeau, 21 Phillips, 22 Sexton, 23 Imhoff

Harlequins: 15 Brown, 14 Williams, 13 Hopper, 12 Casson, 11 Smith, 10 Evans, 9 Care, 8 Easter, 7 Robshaw (capt), 6 Wallace, 5 Robson, 4 Matthews, 3 Collier, 2 Ward, 1 Marler
Replacements: 16 Allen, 17 Lambert, 18 Doran-Jones, 19 Kennedy, 20 Trayfoot, 21 Dickson, 22 Botica, 23 Walker