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Underdogs prevail

Image: Exeter Chiefs: Looking to upset the odds again when they play Glasgow this weekend

Sky Bet's rugby expert assesses the market ahead of the second round of the Heineken Cup.

Sky Bet's Jordan Fiddes expects more shocks in this weekend's Heineken Cup

A great weekend for outsiders Exeter and Edinburgh in the opening round of the Heineken Cup had huge implications on the outright markets for this year's tournament. Munster - who lost away at Edinburgh - have moved from 16/1 to 22/1 to lift the European trophy and Cardiff are now a massive 300/1 after their humiliating performance at Exeter on Sunday. Toulon remain the favourites - they've shortened from 7/2 to 3/1 - yet rivals Leicester are now 20/1 with an opening night defeat to Ulster. Saracens remain the shortest price for any English hope at 7/1 and face a Toulouse side on Friday who are in search of a fifth Heineken Cup title. Europe's most successful side in the competition picked up maximum points against Zebre last week and match Sarries at 7/1 in the outright market. The leaders of the Aviva Premiership are slight favourites at 8/15 and must win by five points or more to beat the handicap at 20/21. A good win away at Connacht has given the home side plenty of impetus going into round two - played at Wembley Stadium this week - and they have beaten this week's opposition in both previous meetings between the two.

Tigers to triumph

It's not expected to be as tight at Welford Road on Friday, however, as the Tigers take on a Treviso side who have won just 18 times in 91 attempts in this competition. The Italian side have been given a 22 point head-start in the betting, yet, given the fact that the overall score between these two is 255-98, things look ominous for Franco Smith's men. Current favourites Toulon travel to take on Cardiff Blues who now have an 11/4 outside chance of winning after last weekend's performance. The French outfit have not lost a game in this competition since January 19 and beat the Blues on both occasions previously. The Welsh side may take heart from their comeback against Exeter - albeit against 13 men - and therefore the half time/full time markets may prove popular. Their comeback saved their blushes somewhat but the same cannot be said for perennial sufferers Zebre, who are yet to win a game in the Heineken Cup. There is a surprisingly small handicap for this one - Andrea Cavinato's men have a three point head start - but that is largely due to Zebre currently lying above Connacht in the Pro12 table. Two time Heineken Cup winners Munster take on a Gloucester side who have had a mixed start to the Aviva Premiership campaign but managed a last-minute win over Perpignan last weekend. The Irish side, who were shocked by Edinburgh in round one - when they had a -11 handicap - have been trimmed this week to just -10 to open their 2013/14 European account. British hopefuls Harlequins have struggled domestically so far in 2013 and suffered an opening round defeat at home to Scarlets last week. They have been handed the biggest start of round two - with 17 points given to them prior to kick off - but face a Clermont side who also suffered opening day defeat and yet to hit their straps in the Top 14 competition.

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