The waiting is almost over and boy do we have a weekend that's got the juices salivating. It's France against Ireland as the Heineken Cup throws up two fascinating semi-finals, with the quality of sides on show rivalling international status as the stars come out to play.

Three-time champions Stade Toulousain play host to title holders Leinster on Saturday, with 2006 runners-up Biarritz welcoming Irish giants Munster (who beat them in that final) to the Basque heartland of San Sebastian on Sunday. A riot of colour and noise is guaranteed at both matches and the possibility of including 'epic' in the match reports is strong.

Neither match is easy to call, although the bookies have generally gone for a Munster - Stade Toulousain final. But it could just as equally be Leinster and Biarritz running out in Paris on May 22, with the other two options being an all-Irish or an all-French final.

Could it be France's year after the national side won the Grand Slam? Superstitions and match-day rituals will be observed by players and fans alike as Europe's premier club competition reaches the heartbreak stage, with opportunities for heroes to be made as regional and national pride goes on the line.

Home advantage for Stade Toulousain must give them the edge over defending champions Leinster, especially after Ireland fly-half Jonny Sexton was ruled out for the visitors having failed to recover from his fractured ankle - sustained in the quarter-final victory over Clermont Auvergne.

Sexton's kicking accuracy that day proved crucial as Clermont's Brock James had a shocker, and the place-kicking duties are likely to be vital again on Saturday. That puts a huge pressure on Sexton's replacement Shaun Berne, as well as Toulouse's David Skrela, although if the quarters were anything to go by there should also be a sack-full of tries this weekend.

Toulouse were in ominous form as they swept aside Stade Francais in the quarterfinal and if Guy Noves' team can hit their rhythm then anything remains possible. But Leinster didn't become champions by fluke and their line-up is drenched with international quality too, as are both benches.

There are simply too many match-winning talents on show to single out individuals and the hope is that we get an open game that ebbs and flows right to the final whistle. Extra-time would be welcomed, although never again penalties.

It could be a moment of brilliance that secures the win - let's hope so - or a moment of madness from a pressure-cracked brain, but either way both matches are likely to be immensely tight affairs.

Stade Toulousain and France captain Thierry Dusautoir confirmed that the Heineken Cup is now the club's No 1 priority (over Top 14 glory), so it really is shit or bust for the south west giants.

The thousands of Munster fans journeying down to northern Spain will ensure that San Sebastian's Estadio Anoeta will be rocking again on Sunday afternoon. Sky commentator Mark Robson said he had never experienced an atmosphere like it as Biarritz squeaked past the Ospreys in the quarterfinal, and it's likely to be another of those 'I was there' games this weekend.

Both sides are missing massively important players - Damien Traille for the hosts and Paul O'Connell for the visitors - but once more there is ample individual and collective talent to go around.

Biarritz totem Imanol Harinordoquy will play with a protective mask following an operation on his broken nose, and the Basques surprisingly named former rugby league international Karmichael Hunt at fly-half, in partnership with the influential Dimitri Yachvili.

Iain Balshaw (at full back) and Takudzwa Ngwenya (winger) provide the pace and counter-attacking intent, with Ayoola Erinle coming in for Traille as the centres are reshuffled. The forward pack will again be led by rumbustuous prop Fabien Barcella, while former England flanker Magnus Lund is also back from injury to earn a starting slot.

Munster preparations were hit by the late withdrawals of Doug Howlett and Ian Dowling from their previously named starting XV for Sunday's clash. Both failed to come through the 'Catpains Run' on Friday and have now been replaced by Lifeimi Mafi and Denis Hurley respectively, with Tom Gleeson coming onto the bench.

Predictions: With Toulon already in the ACC final then fate seems to be conspiring to make this France's season. Thus, I have to go for a Biarritz v Stade Toulousain final.

Team details: Stade Toulousain v Leinster
Date: Saturday, May 1
Venue: Stade de Toulouse
Kick-off: 16.45
Referee: Nigel Owens

Stade Toulousain: 15 Clément Poitrenaud, 14 Vincent Clerc, 13 Florian Fritz, 12 Yannick Jauzion, 11 Cédric Heymans, 10 David Skrela, 9 Byron Kelleher, 8 Shaun Sowerby, 7 Thierry Dusautoir (c), 6 Jean Bouilhou, 5 Patricio Albacete, 4 Romain Millo-Chluski, 3 Benoit Lecouls, 2 William Servat, 1 Daan Human.
Replacements: 16 Virgil Lacombe, 17 Jean-Baptiste Poux, 18 Yohan Montes, 19 Yoann Maestri, 20 Louis Picamoles , 21 Jean-Baptiste Elissalde, 22 Yann David , 23 Maxime Médard.

Leinster: 15 Rob Kearney, 14 Shane Horgan, 13 Brian O'Driscoll, 12 Gordon D'Arcy, 11 Isa Nacewa, 10 Shaun Berne, 9 Eoin Reddan, 8 Jamie Heaslip, 7 Shane Jennings, 6 Kevin McLaughlin, 5 Nathan Hines, 4 Leo Cullen (c), 3 Stan Wright, 2 John Fogarty, 1 Cian Healy.
Replacements: 16 Bernard Jackman, 17 CJ Van Der Linde, 18 Mike Ross, 19 Malcolm O'Kelly, 20 Stephen Keogh, 21 Paul O'Donohoe, 22 Eoin O'Malley, 23 Girvan Dempsey.

Team details: Biarritz v Leinster
Date: Sunday, May 2
Kick-off: 16:15
Venue: Estadio Anoeta, San Sebastian
Referee: Dave Pearson (England)

Biarritz: 15 Iain Balshaw, 14 Takudzwa Ngwenya, 13 Arnaud Mignardi, 12 Ayoola Erinle, 11 Jean-Baptiste Gobelet, 10 Karmichael Hunt, 9 Dimitri Yachvili, 8 Imanol Harinordoquy, 7 Wenceslas Lauret, 6 Magnus Lund, 5 Trevor Hall, 4 Jérôme Thion, 3 Campbell Johnstone, 2 Benoit August, 1 Eduard Coetzee.
Replacements: 16 Romain Terrain, 17 Fabien Barcella, 18 Rémy Hughes, 19 Manuel Carizza, 20 Florian Faure, 21 Valentin Courrent, 22 Julien Peyrelongue, 23 Philippe Bidabe.

Munster (revised): 15 Paul Warwick, 14 Lifeimi Mafi, 13 Keith Earls, 12 Jean de Villiers, 11 Denis Hurley, 10 Ronan O'Gara, 9 Tomas O'Leary, 8 James Coughlan, 7 David Wallace, 6 Alan Quinlan, 5 Mick O'Driscoll, 4 Donncha O'Callaghan, 3 John Hayes, 2 Jerry Flannery, 1 Marcus Horan.
Replacements: 16 Damien Varley, 17 Julien Brugnaut, 18 Tony Buckley, 19 Nick Williams, 20 Niall Ronan, 21 Peter Stringer, 22 Tom Gleeson , 23 Scott Deasy.