It's crunch time in the Heineken Cup with the final two rounds of the pool stages starting tonight (Friday) as the race for quarter-final berths comes to a head.

Of the six French sides involved four have genuine aspirations to progress through to the last eight with Biarritz, Stade Francais and Stade Toulousain all leading their respective groups, while Top 14 leaders Clermont Auvergne are also handily placed. Only Brive and Perpignan are playing for pride as the jostling for European glory continues.

Heineken Cup Pools & Fixtures

Stade Francais v Bath Rugby
Paris giants Stade Francais go into Saturday's home game against Bath Rugby in Pool 4 with a four point advantage over second-placed Ulster, and looking to seal qualification for the quarter-finals. Bath arrive having won just once in their four group matches, meaning they can play without the pressure of qualification hanging over them. The main conundrum for Stade is the scrum-half position after a combination of Julien Dupuy's ban, injuries to Noel Oelschig and Charlie Davies, and Benjamin Tardy's ineligibility has left them without a recognised No 9 in their squad. Several players were tried out in the half-back role during training this week before Scottish full-back Hugo Southwell eventually filled the void. Southwell's versatility saw him start at fly-half for Scotland 'A' recently, and he will now add the scrum-half position to his repertoire. "He played scrum-half until the age of 18," said Stade Francais coach Jacques Delmas. "Considering the weather conditions that we'll be facing, Hugo has a left boot worth considering and a very good pass. He's also very good at cover defence," Delmas told AFP. "We've got total confidence in Hugo. With Didier Faugeron we decided it was the best choice to be make," he added.
Despite their scrum-half problems Stade still have a back-line packed with try-scoring potential and they will be looking for a bonus-point win that could guarantee them a quarter-final slot depending on how Ulster fare at home to Edinburgh. Argentine Ignacio Mieres will start at fly-half, with goal-kicker Lionel Beauxis again at full-back, while in-form Mathieu Bastareaud is in the centres with Geoffroy Messina. England duo James Haskell and Tom Palmer are both in the pack, while Top 14's leading scorer Mark Gasnier has to settle for a place on the replacement's bench.
Verdict: Stade Francais win

Gloucester Rugby v Biarritz
Pool 2 leaders Biarritz travel to Gloucester as the only team still boasting a 100% win record in this season's competition, thus allowing them room for manouevre even if they lose in England. The Basque club currently have a seemingly unassailable 10-point lead over second-placed Gloucester, meaning the triple loss through injury of Dimitri Yachvili, Damien Traille and Fabien Barcella should not prove too costly. The French side have generally saved their best rugby this season for the Heineken Cup and will be keen to maintain their winning momentum at Kingsholm, despite what will undoubtedly be a partisan home crowd. American winger Takudzwa Ngwenya is presently the competition's leading try-scorer, while centre Ayoola Erinle will be looking to remind spectators - at the ground and on television - just why he was selected by Martin Johnson during the Autumn internationals. Yann Lesgourgues takes over from Yachvili at scrum-half with Arnaud Mignardi partnering Erinle in the centres and Paul Couet-Lannes at full-back. Imanol Harinordoquy starts at No 8, with Magnus Lund and Samiu Vahafolau completing the back row.
Verdict: Gloucester win

Clermont Auvergne v Ospreys
Top 14 leaders Clermont Auvergne may go into this weekend in third position in Pool 3 but two wins from their last two games could well be enough to get them through to the quarter-finals in one of the tightest Heineken Cup groups. 'Les Jaunards' have hit a rich vein of form of late, topped by Sunday's away win at Stade Toulousain, and a home victory against pool toppers Ospreys will put them in an excellent position to progress. They lost by a single point when these two teams met in Wales earlier in the competition and the odds are on another tight match when they front up again Saturday afternoon. Four points separate the two sides at present - with Leicester Tigers level with Clermont on 12 points - so there is everything to play for at the Stade Marcel Michelin, especially as Clermont face up to basement club Viadana in their final match, while the Ospreys host the Tigers.
"We go out to Clermont knowing that we have to be professional out there and do our job properly to ensure we bring something back with us," said Ospreys and Wales star Ryan Jones. The Welsh side welcome back internationals Lee Byrne, Adam Jones and Ian Evans, while former All Black Jerry Collins will also be keen to impress along side Marty Holah in the back row. Clermont will have the dual goals of trying to win and simultaneously deny the Ospreys a defensive bonus as the French league leaders seek to make the last eight. Perpignan target James Hook is on the bench, while Clermont's backs have an adventurous look to them with Morgan Parra and Brock James starting in the half-back positions, complemented by the likes of Aurélien Rougerie, Seremaia Bai, Napolioni Nalaga and Julien Malzieu. Ospreys head coach Sean Holley is aware of the threat. "We've had a good look at their strengths and weaknesses, and it's been interesting viewing to be honest. They've got a good set-piece game and they like to play attacking rugby using their big, strong backs. We know that we are going to be put under pressure by them and their passionate supporters, but we have to stand up to that," he said.
Verdict: Clermont Auvergne win

Leinster v Brive
Point-less Brive head to defending champions Leinster looking to salvage some European pride after a testing return to Heineken Cup action following their decade-long absence. Four defeats from four tells its own story, and judging by the side put out for Saturday's clash it seems more than likely that will become five from five. England centre Riki Flutey, fly-half Fabrice Estebanez and full-back Alexis Palisson are among several players rested, although Welsh flanker Alix Palisson makes a welcome return after a lengthy injury-enforced absence. Jamie Noon also starts - as usual - while Damien Browne and Steve Thompson will also be out to impress. Fijian winger Viliame Waqaseduadua is on the bench, alongside Shaun Perry and club captain Simon Azoulai, with the starting half-back combination being made up of Jean-Baptiste Péjoine and Luciano Orquera. Joint pool leaders Leinster will be looking for a bonus-point win to strengthen their own hopes of a quarter-final berth, and have a plethora of Irish internationals in the side. Winger Shane Horgan makes his 75th Heineken Cup appearance, while the centre pairing of Brian O'Driscoll and Gordon D'Arcy oozes class, with British Lion Rob Kearney at full-back. Looks like it could be a tough afternoon for the Limousin club.
Verdict: Leinster win

Northampton Saints v Perpignan
Top 14 champions Perpignan have nowt but pride to play for as they travel to Northampton Saints having already lost three of their four Pool 1 matches to date. Double defeat by Munster put paid to their European aspirations in December, so this match has effectively becomes an exercise in squad management. Northampton, by contrast, are tracking pool leaders Munster and go into the game knowing that nothing but victory will suffice. They will also be looking to avenge their 29-13 defeat the Stade Aimé Giral in October.
Verdict: Northampton Saints win

Stade Toulousain v Harlequins
Three-time champions Stade Toulousain welcome win-less Harlequins to the Stade Ernest Wallon on Sunday looking to further cement their lead in Pool 5. Guy Noves' French outfit won 23-19 in England in October and currently hold a one-point advantage over Sale Sharks - who they travel to play in their final game. Perennially injured fly-half David Skrela is once more sidelined, meaning the versatile Jean-Baptiste Elissalde will take the No 10 shirt. Stade will no doubt still be hurting from Sunday's home defeat by Clermont, and also have the memories of a shock home loss to Glasgow Warriors in last season's competition to ward off any complacency. That reverse proved hugely costly as Toulouse subsequently missed out on a home quarter-final, and ultimately went out after losing away to Cardiff Blues in the last eight. "It's out of the question to look down on them [Harlequins]," said France international Maxime Médard. "We'll have to grant them some respect and give everything to impose ourselves because we need a win to qualify," he added. Complacency has clearly been an overriding theme during the build up for the French side, with backs coach Philippe Rouge-Thomas also warning against over-confidence. "Even against a team that has nothing to hope for you must be careful," he said this week. "These teams that come without pressure are very dangerous. It's a trap 'par excellence'. They're a difficult team to handle, they play everything at 100%. We'll have to be rigorous on defence," he added.
Verdict: Stade Toulousain win