An intoxicating pre-Christmas fortnight of Heineken Cup action begins on Friday night, and with France boasting three of the four teams still with 100% win records it is all set to be another fascinating two rounds of rugby. What makes these two rounds even more attractive is the fact they effectively become two-legged ties played over consecutive weekends.

The three Top 14 sides with as yet unblemished records are, unsurprisingly, the nation's traditional European powers in three-times champions Stade Toulousain, twice runners-up Stade Francais and one runners-up Biarritz. The Parisians could make it three wins from three when they take on Ulster in Ireland on Saturday, and Biarritz must be favourites for their home clash with the Dragons on Sunday.

Heineken Cup Pools & Fixtures

For Stade Toulousain there is a far tougher assignment altogether, tinged with recent history too as they travel to Cardiff to take on the Blues in a re-match of last year's quarter-final. The Welsh side came out victorious that weekend, winning a try-less encounter 9-6, and there's no doubting that France's most successful club side will be out to make amends. But that quest has been complicated by an erratic season on the pitch so far, with Guy Noves' outfit having already lost six times on the road this campaign.

Elsewhere, Perpignan face the daunting task of going to Thomond Park to try and get a result against Munster on Friday night - a necessity brought upon themselves with their round one defeat at Benetton Treviso - while Brive play host to London Irish as the Limousin club goes in search of a first win.

That leaves Clermont Auvergne's mouthwatering clash with five-times finalists Leicester Tigers, with the first installment at the Stade Marcel Michelin on Sunday afternoon. A touchline and dressing-room ban means Tigers boss Richard Cockerill should have plenty of opportunity to catch up with old friends from his two-year stint there as a player.

Munster v Perpignan
Travelling to Limerick to take on Munster at Thomond Park is a daunting enough mission, but French champions Perpignan have the added pressure of knowing they must - in the words of head coach Jacques Brunel - "absolutely bring back something". The Catalans, though, have no-one but themselves to blame after inexplicably losing 9-8 away to Benetton Treviso in round one, a result which has left them in a perilous position in Pool 1. Their task hasn't been aided either by a string of injuries which have decimated their back-row, with Ovidiu Tonita, Viliami Vaki, Jean-Pierre Pérez, Damien Chouly, and talismanic Samoan No 8 Henry Tuilagi all ruled out.
It is hardly the ideal situation when travelling to the two-times champions, but Perpignan will seek comfort in the fact Munster have had their own problems of late and are currently languishing in the unfamiliar surrounds of the mid-table obscurity in the Magners League. Both sides, however, are familiar with what it takes to win after claiming their respective domestic titles last season - adding extra spice to an already tantalising match.
Munster captain Paul O'Connell returns to lead the side after missing Saturday's loss to the Ospreys, along with David Wallace and Denis Leamy as the Irish province rolls out its big guns. Hooker Jerry Flannery misses out though due to a "slight achilles problem". O'Connell conceded this week that Munster's form was "probably a bit of a concern", but believes the big-match atmosphere will bring out the best in his team.
"Obviously they're a massive scrummaging side," he said of Perpignan. "The scrum is very big for them. They're a very big mauling side. They maul most of the ball they get and they're very good at it. They kick a lot from their own half of the pitch, but when they get into your half they're a typical French side and play with a lot of pace, play with with a lot of width. It's going to be a very tough challenge."
Munster have only lost once at Thomond Park in the Heineken Cup and can also call on a 19-10 home win against Perpignan in the 2006 knockout stages. "Last time we played them we played an unbelievably tough game in the quarter-final in Lansdowne Road and barely won," recalled O'Connell.
Perpignan have named tyro No 8 Yannick Parent in their squad with the 23-year-old set for a European baptism of fire after less than an hour of first-team rugby for the Catalans. Mind you, he did score against Montpellier at the weekend. They also have one of the best centre pairings in French rugby with Maxime Mermoz (Midi Olympique's recently acclaimed Player of the Year) and David Marty, while full-back Jérôme Porical has been in splendid goal-kicking form of late. Munster have named Springbok prop Wian du Preez at loosehead for his Heineken debut, while Keith Earls has been preferred to Jean de Villiers in the centres, alongside Lifeimi Mafi.
Verdict: Munster win

Ulster Rugby v Stade Francais
Confidence, it seems, is not lacking on either side in this the 10th meeting between Ulster and Stade Francais in the Heineken Cup. Stade currently shade the series 5-4 (including home and away wins in last season's tournament) and go into this match as one of four teams still boasting a 100% win record after just two rounds, but a trip to Ravenhill is bound to test their credentials. Max Guazzini's star-studded outfit may have been robbed of one of their true jewels - injured No 8 Sergio Parisse - but thy have targeted Heineken success this season as they attempt to win the one trophy that still eludes them. The fact the 2010 final is taking place at the Stade de France - their spiritual second home - only adds to the desire. A win here would virtually guarantee them a quarter-final slot, especially if they could follow up with a second victory in the return leg - being held in Brussels - but the Irish will be no pushovers, as they showed in beating Bath 26-12 in the opening round of games.
The place-kicking of Stade and France scrum-half Julien Dupuy is likely to be crucial again - his seven penalties helped down Bath in round two - but the Paris giants have shown they're capable of scoring from anywhere this season. Despite lying seventh in Top 14 they go into Saturday's match having scored the most tries (34) and points (389) in France this season, while their early-season defence has tightened immeasurably since the arrival of Jacques Delmas as head coach. They still, however, remain an inconsistent outfit and what Delmas would have given for Monday's squad-wide 'swine-flu' vaccination to have included an 'anti-error' mechanism. Still, in keeping with their renowned self-assuredness, veteran Stade prop Sylvain Marconnet laid out the club's current beliefs. "We have goals in this competition, we have ambitions. So if you want to stay consistent we need to go to Belfast and win," he said. "We do not hide. We want to be champions of France and European champions," he added.
But Ulster won't be cowed by reputations and Ireland flanker Stephen Ferris is relishing the combat. "French sides always pose a physical threat and they're pretty hard to handle. But if you can get stuck into them early and let them know that they're in a game, they don't really like it," he said. "We need to get into them from the start and get a few points on the board. That lifts you, makes them anxious, gets the crowd - the 16th man - going and puts the opposition's backs to the wall," added Ferris, before concluding that "we firmly believe we're going to win the game".
Verdict: Stade Francais win

Cardiff Blues v Stade Toulousain
If revenge really is a dish best served cold then a Stade Toulousain victory could be on the cards in Cardiff on Saturday, if forecasters are to be believed. It could certainly be a chill wind for the hosts if Guy Noves' team find their most fluent form, but that's a big IF given Stade's woeful away record this season. The normally dominant south-west giants have lost six of their eight away games in Top 14 so far, although significantly they did win at Harlequins in the last round of this competition. Injuries and international absentees have hit Stade hard this season and their lack of consistency has been an inevitable result. But this weekend they welcome back one of their star performers, with rampaging number eight Louis Picamoles returning after a three week absence. Picamoles - in his first season at Stade after joining from Montpellier - had an enormous impact as France beat South Africa recently, and his ball carrying skills will be crucial at Cardiff. Last year's try-less 9-6 quarter-final defeat is etched in the minds of every Toulouse player (and fan), and the red and black machine is hell-bent on gaining revenge. The absence of Yann David can be covered in the centres - where Stade are truly blessed - and Noves has opted to rest scrum-half Byron Kelleher ahead of the return match. David Skrela is back after injury to add competition for the fly-half berth with Frédéric Michalak, while Jean-Baptiste Elissalde will stat at number nine. France skipper Thierry Dusautoir will lead the side, with Stade hoping they can get more ball out wide this time so they can service the pace of Vincent Clerc, Cédric Heymans and Maxime Médard.
Cardiff go into the game with similarly erratic form having notched up just three wins from eight in the Magners League, and only five wins in all 13 competitive matches. Despite that there is no element of fear or doubt in Dai Young's team, with memories of last season's win sufficient to give his team confidence of a repeat performance. Barbarians trio Jamie Roberts, Leigh Halfpenny and Andy Powell return bolstered by their win against All Blacks last weekend, while new signing Casey Laulala has been named out outside centre ahead of Tom Shanklin. Cardiff were left heartbroken after losing last season's semi-final to Leicester Tigers in a  penalty shootout, but anything but a win here will seriously inhibit their hopes of going one better this time out. "We aren't playing like we want to play," admitted coach Young. "This is the time we need to come together and we know we can't leave it any longer. We will go into the game with that fear factor because we know if we aren't on form they could really put us to the sword. They are one of the best sides in Europe and are a massive challenge - games don't get any bigger than this. We have huge respect for them, but we know that at our best we can match them and get the win. I would like to think they will fear us a bit as well". Young described last season's win as "one of the best days we have had as a side" and is hoping the spirit of that will galvanise his faltering troops to another day of European glory.
Verdict: Stade Toulousain win

Brive v London Irish
Former champions Brive have a mountain to climb if they're to rescue something from this year's campaign, so home victory against London Irish is an absolute must before they even think of pulling on the crampons. Two defeats from two has left them bottom of the pile in Pool 6, but where's life there's hope. The Exiles surprised everyone with a 12-9 away win at defending champions Leinster in round one, then promptly lost at home to group leaders Scarlets. But the 2007/8 semi-finalists are currently second in the Guinness Premiership after their weekend draw with Worcester and will travel with genuine hopes of victory to get their own ambitions back on track. They come to a Brive side desperate for a big performance to continue their recent revival under new head coach Ugo Mola. Successive league wins against Montpellier and Stade Toulousain have lifted them clear of Top 14's relegation zone, and the emergence of Fabrice Estebanez at fly-half has been a welcome development - although not necessarily for England's Andy Goode. Fellow England international Jamie Noon will also be on the sidelines, although this is in the interests of preservation as the former Newcastle centre has played all 17 games for Brive so far this season. Indeed, Noon has clocked up the most pitch-time of any player in Top 14, such has been his solidity within a faltering team. British Lions international Riki Flutey remains injured, but Steve Thompson and Sean Perry should both feature for the Limousin club as it seeks to break its Heineken duck.
Exiles scrum-half Paul Hodgson is excite   
Verdict: Brive win

Biarritz v Newport Gwent Dragons
Biarritz may be one of just four sides to have won their opening two games, but the contrast in their form going into this weekend - as opposed to the opening two rounds - could not be greater. Back then the club was on a five-match winning streak before registering further victories against Glasgow and Gloucester. Now they entertain the Dragons on the back of a weekend loss at SCA Albi - Top 14's basement club - and having been beaten in five of their last six games in all. It is a run stretching back to that Gloucester win, and caused head coach Lorenzo Rodriguez to offer his resignation this week, although it was quickly turned down by president Serge Blanco. Indeed, Blanco reaffirmed his belief in the current coaches and then issued a rallying call to the players as he urged them to use the Heineken Cup as a springboard to improved results in Top 14. The continued loss of Imanol Harinordoquy is a blow, but the likes of Damien Traille, Ayoola Erinle and Fabien Barcella are now back from international duty to bolster spirits. "We missed one or two players who are leaders in the group," admitted fly-half Valentin Courrent. Rugby league convert Karmichael Hunt could get his first taste of Heineken rugby, while the likes of Iain Balshaw, Paul Couet-Lannes and Takudzwa Ngwenya - who scored a memorable hat-trick against Gloucester - all carry try-scoring potency. Combative scrum-half Dimitri Yachvili will continue with the place-kicking duties, while his out-of-hand promptings are crucial to his team's momentum.
The Dragons arrive having never won a Heineken game on French soil, or having ever progressed beyond the pool stages, but they are currently fourth in the Magners League having won five of their last eight games. Skipper and former New Zealand hooker Tom Willis returns to lead the side after an injury-plagued season, and he knows the Welsh side face a huge challenge in the Basque heartland. "We know it will be very physical, with the collisions in defence and fronting-up will be key for us. They have a very good record at home and we are very conscious we are heading to a very proud rugby region. They are going to be strong, with some big artillery, but we are full of confidence and don't mind being underdogs," he told WalesOnline.
Verdict: Biarritz win

Clermont Auvergne v Leicester Tigers
It's currently a three-horse race in Pool 3 but the forthcoming double-header between Clermont Auvergne and Leicester Tigers is likely to eliminate at least one of those. Leicester, last year's runners-up, are presently top with eight points from two matches, but Clermont and the Ospreys both have six as the race for a quarter-final berth hots up. Ospreys - who 32-32 at Leicester in round one - will be expecting eight to 10 points from their two games with Viadana, leaving Clermont and Leicester to battle it out over successive weekends to remain in contention. The Tigers have European pedigree on their side as they go hunting for a third final appearance in four years - and a third title overall - but Clermont are a force to be reckoned with at the Stade Marcel Michelin, and must surely throw off their 'bridesmaids' tag at some point. Leicester have won both previous encounters with Clermont and they should be well briefed as head coach Richard Cockerill also spent two seasons (2002-04) with the Michelin-backed outfit. "It'll be nice to go back. It's changed a lot since I was there," he reflected this week. "They're a great bunch of supporters and it's a fantastic club. I like the club a lot and I have a huge affinity with them. My son was born in Clermont Ferrand so we'll always have that connection. It will be nice to go back, but it will also be nice to get one over them too," he added. Cockerill is under no illusions about the task in hand - "They should be respected and feared because they are a very, very good team" - but his own input will be limited due to his changing room ban following recent tirade at a referee. It will be up to the players to take responsibility for their performance and England centre Dan Hipkiss, 27, is desperate to add to his two losers' medals. "We feel disappointed about losing the finals in 2007 and last season and we want to try and get back there and win it this time. It's easy to say that but it does give you a little bit of extra motivation," he said. Leicester hope to have Harry Ellis, Sam Vesty and Billy Twelvetrees available, and will also give a Heineken debut to Australian Lote Tuqiri. There will be no place, however, for injured Lions star Tom Croft, or Argentine winger Luca Amorosino (out with a fractured leg). Clermont hope that Benoît Baby will be fit after his weekend neck injury, while Brent Russell, Kevin Senio and Seremaia Bai could also return.
Verdict: Clermont Auvergne win