European Champions Cup quarter-final line-up to be confirmed this weekend

19 January 2017 11:24

The European Champions Cup pool stage will conclude this weekend, with four quarter-final places up for grabs after Munster, Saracens, Leinster and Clermont Auvergne progressed with one game to spare.

Here, Press Association Sport looks at the final weekend permutations.

POOL ONE

Twice European champions Munster have already won the group, and victory over Racing 92 in Limerick on Saturday would secure a home quarter-final. Glasgow will also reach the knockout phase if they beat Leicester at Welford Road, securing one of three best runner-up spots across five pools. Leicester and Racing are out.

POOL TWO

Wasps, Champions Cup semi-finalists last season, will progress either as group winners or runners-up by seeing off already eliminated tournament minnows Zebre in Italy. Toulouse or Connacht, who clash in France, are also set for a quarter-final place, depending on Sunday's outcome at Stade Ernest Wallon.

POOL THREE

Champions Cup holders Saracens have booked a quarter-final place, and victory over Allianz Park visitors Toulon on Saturday would confirm a home tie. A Toulon triumph would put them through for the sixth time in seven seasons, but a losing bonus point might also be enough, depending on results elsewhere. Scarlets and Sale are out.

POOL FOUR

Leinster head to Castres on Friday, having already secured quarter-final status, and a home tie is now their objective. Castres and second-placed Montpellier are still in the last-eight hunt, and a bonus-point victory for Montpellier at home against Northampton might be enough.

POOL FIVE

French heavyweights Clermont Auvergne won the group one round inside the distance, and they will clinch a home quarter-final by beating Stade Marcel-Michelin visitors Exeter on Saturday. The Chiefs could still go through, but realistically, they would need an unlikely five-point maximum at Clermont's expense.

POSSIBLE QUARTER-FINALISTS: Munster, Wasps, Saracens, Leinster, Clermont Auvergne, Toulouse, Glasgow, Toulon.

Source: PA