Pool 1

Oh what a blow it is for Munster not to have Conor Murray available. There probably isn’t one player as crucial to a club across the competition as the scrum-half is to his region. They will sorely lack his calm head and the way he controls the tempo, but also his decision-making, which will be crucial to any chance of winning at Allianz Park. The way they’ve lined up, however, suggest the decision on how to play has already been made. Flair players such as JJ Hanrahan and Keith Earls have been left on the bench in favour of battering-rams like Denis Hurley. It has to be said that the way to beat Saracens is to vary your game, and while Munster boast a confrontational pack, they will not be able to steamroll over them. As Gloucester proved recently, you need a bit of flair and the willingness to take them on out wide to beat them. Saracens, with Farrell and Barritt returning to the backline, will win the physical battle and that will be enough to get them the win.

The other game sees Sale looking to derail the Clermont train, which continues to steam on towards the knockout stages. The French side will need to be wary, however – the Sharks’ zero from four record belies a squad capable of causing an upset. Sarries and Munster may have won in Salford but their collective winning margin was five. Make no mistake, Sale are tough nut to crack at home. Danny Cipriani’s battle with Camille Lopez is the headline-grabber – the rogue Englishman needs the game of his career to convince Stuart Lancaster to include him in the Six Nations squad. It could happen, but more likely the Clermont juggernaut will squeak through for a win.

Saracens vs Munster: Saracens by 6
Sale Sharks vs Clermont Auvergne: Clermont by 3

Pool 2

Leinster have a relatively easy ride this weekend, in the shape of Castres at home. The French side are well and truly out of European competition and have been so below-par in the Top 14 that they will be reserving their best efforts for there, in order to avoid relegation. That said, they’ve named several first team regulars in their line-up – the likes of Rory Kockott, Thomas Combezou and Richie Gray – so they are perhaps willing to give it a bit of a go. Captain Jamie Heaslip declared himself fit and is a boost to Leinster, who will be chasing a bonus point to propel themselves to the top of the pool. They’ll definitely get the win – the bonus point might be beyond them.

Harlequins against Wasps doesn’t sound like the most exciting fixture of the round, but given the open style both sides like to play, it certainly has the potential to be up there. Harlequins have saved some of their best performances this season for European competition, their win at Adams Park last year a case in point. Wasps will be out for revenge, and with both sides in good form it should be a superb game. The battle between Nick Easter and Nathan Hughes will be titanic, but equally important will be the contributions of England rivals and respective captains Chris Robshaw and James Haskell on the openside. Given both team’s desire to play with quick ball, if either can have a disruptive influence at the breakdown it could go a long way to negating the opposition’s attack. Wasps to continue their fine form with a surprise win.

Leinster vs Castres: Leinster by 9
Harlequins vs Wasps: Wasps by 3

Pool 3

It’s been an unfeasibly frustrating season for Tigers fans. Just when they think they’ve turned a corner (e.g. the win over Bath), they’ve been brought sharply back down to earth (e.g. the record loss against Quins last weekend). It’s tough to know what to make of their season, but if they’re to have any chance of qualifying from their European pool as either winner or runner-up, they need at least nine points from their final two games. That means the game at home to the Scarlets will be targeted for five points, something they’ve achieved only three times this season. We are robbed of seeing the Owen Williams vs Rhys Priestland battle, Freddie Burns instead getting a rare start in the 10 shirt – perhaps an indication that the Tigers want to play a more open game. That could play into the Scarlets’ hands – despite a debilitating injury list, they still boast a hugely dangerous backline. The Tigers should have enough in the pack to win, but a bonus point will be hard to come by.

Ulster have been thrown a bone ahead of their trip to Toulon with the news that the entire Galacticos’ backline bar Drew Mitchell has been laid low this week with flu. That should disrupt their preparations sufficiently to give the Irish side a fighting chance, but they have injury issues of their own. The pack looks far too under-powered to take on the might of the Toulon unit, so even if their backs are a bit rusty, expect it to be one way traffic in the forwards, which will be enough to get Toulon the win and likely wrap up the pool in the process.

Leicester Tigers vs Scarlets: Leicester by 6
Toulon vs Ulster: Toulon by 12

Pool 4

Glasgow look to have a relatively easy task on Sunday, with Montpellier sending an underpower side up to Scotstoun this weekend. Like Castres, they are out of this competition and will be focusing all of their efforts on the Top 14, where they face an uphill battle to qualify for the knockouts. It should be a regulation win for the Scottish side, who will be chasing a try bonus point.

Bath’s visit to Toulouse is a mouthwatering prospect, not least because of what’s riding on the game. A win for Bath puts them right back into the frame for qualification, but anything else and they are pretty much out of the picture (if Glasgow win, as expected). Toulouse, despite patchy domestic form, are the only unbeaten side left in the competition and are as a result fairly comfortable favourites. The reverse of this fixture saw Paul James put Census Johnstone under plenty of pressure at the scrum, and it will be intriguing to see if the same happens in Toulouse, with a tidal wave of home support at their back. There’s a huge boost for Bath as Kyle Eastmond and Jonathan Joseph renew their telepathic partnership in the centres, while George Ford’s face-off with old mentor Toby Flood will write its own headlines. Toulouse to snatch a tight win.

Glasgow vs Montpellier: Glasgow by 15
Toulouse vs Bath: Toulouse by 2

Pool 5

Northampton’s trip to the Liberty Stadium could end up being a real banana skin for the English giants. The Ospreys are in fine domestic form and have named their strongest line-up to take on the Saints. Northampton’s good bonus point rate means that even if they lose this one and beat Racing Metro at home next weekend, they will still likely top the group. A losing bonus point would probably be enough to guarantee that. They have a bit of an injury crisis at second row, where Christian Day is the only recognised lock in the squad, and the impact that has on their set-piece will be keenly felt. Dylan Hartley returns from suspension, so expect some of the Ospreys’ more experienced campaigners to try and get under his skin a bit. Northampton are a class team but at home the Ospreys could well cause an upset.

The other game in this pool is a walkover, given Benetton Treviso’s presence in it. Racing, who potentially crucially failed to pick up a bonus point in the reverse fixture in Italy, desperately need one here. They should get it with room to spare.

Ospreys vs Northampton Saints: Ospreys by 2
Racing Métro vs Benetton Treviso: Racing by 28

How do you see the weekend going?

By Jamie Hosie
Follow Jamie on Twitter: @jhosie43

Photo by: Patrick Khachfe / Onside Images