What is up for grabs is winning the group and a home quarter final, a massive advantage for players and fans alike. On that basis, the key fixtures this weekend are:
Pool 5 - Toulon v Edinburgh and Montpellier v Newcastle
Edinburgh lead the pool by four points from Montpellier, who host Newcastle Falcons tomorrow - a further three points adrift - a few hours earlier than the Toulon game. Victory for Vern Cotter's Montpellier would set up a group decider at Murrayfield next weekend, while a Falcons win will mean Edinburgh starting their match in Toulon knowing victory would seal a quarter-final berth.
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| Richard Cockerill, the Edinburgh coach, returns to his old club Toulon this Saturday |
Pool 1 - Leinster v Toulouse
The defending European Champions are two points behind Toulouse after the French outfit edged a 28-27 win when the teams met in October at Stade Ernest Wallon. History favours victory for Leinster, however, with neither side having racked up two consecutive wins over the other in previous European action, where the stats are currently 5-4 in favour of Toulouse. However, Leinster will be without Johnny Sexton, Rob Kearney and Robbie Henshaw.
Pool 4 - Ulster v Racing Metro
Back-to-back bonus point wins over Scarlets have put Ulster in contention for a place in the last eight of the competition, something they have not achieved since 2014. A win tomorrow will leave them well placed for qualification before their final group game against Leicester at Welford Road next week. However having already claimed an emphatic 44-12 win over their Irish opponents in October, Racing Metro will be eyeing a win that would secure top spot in Pool Four. Simon Zebo returns for the French team to play on Irish soil for the first time since leaving Munster last season.
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| Simon Zebo is back on Irish soil this weekend for Racing Metro |
Pool 2 - Exeter v Castres
Either of these teams could still qualify as best runner up, but will have to win their last two games. If Castres secure an unlikely away win at Sandy Park this weekend, then they only have to beat Gloucester at home in the final game (who cannot qualify), unlike Exeter, who will have to travel to Munster.