There is something for each of the four Welsh regions to fight for in the fourth and final round of pool matches in Europe this weekend.
The Ospreys and Cardiff Rugby are already through to the Round of 16 in the EPCR Challenge Cup, while the Dragons are still in with a shout of joining them. The Scarlets will need a bonus point win at the home of Northampton Saints to possibly extend their time in the Investec Champions Cup.
The action will begin at Rodney Parade on Friday night (16 January – 8.00pm) when the Dragons host Newcastle Red Bulls. The English Premiership side are unbeaten in their three games to date in Pool 2 and only trail Benetton Rugby by a single point.
BUY TICKETS TO SEE THE DRAGONS PLAY HERE
Dragons head coach Filo Tiatia will hopefully have a full-strength side to field this week after seeing his team lose by a record score of 74-21 to Benetton in Italy last weekend. That left them in fifth place in the pool, two points behind both Perpignan and the Lions in the final two qualifying positions.
Those two teams meet in Perpignan the day after the Dragons play. A bonus point win for the Dragons would take them to nine points and a regulation victory would give them eight.
That would put the pressure on their two rivals the day after, but there are a number of permutations that could affect the Dragons’ progress even if they do win.
Both the Ospreys and Cardiff are guaranteed a ticket into the Round of 16 after three rounds. The Ospreys are currently second in Pool 1 on 11 points and welcome the top side, Montpellier, to the Brewery Field on Saturday night (17 January – 8.00pm).
BUY TICKETS TO SEE THE OSPREYS PLAY HERE
Their fight is to earn a home draw in the knock-out stages to improve their chances of progressing in the tournament. To do that a win on home soil is paramount to hold off the teams on their tail, Zebre and Connacht.
Cardiff head to Exeter Chiefs on Sunday (18 January – 1.00pm) safe in the knowledge that they are through to the Round of 16. But once again the battle is to earn a home game.
To do that they will have to beat the Chiefs, who are one point below them, to put pressure on Stade Francais Paris and Ulster Rugby above them. They meet in Belfast on Saturday in one of the ties of the round.
Sunday will also see the Scarlets in action at Franklin’s Gardens (3.15pm), where they will face the current English Premiership leaders Northampton Saints. Dwayne Peel’s side are currently in fifth place in Pool 4, three points behind Pau.
Pau meet the Bulls, who are bottom, on Saturday and if the Top 14 club win that game then the Scarlets won’t be able to reach the Round of 16 in the Champions Cup. However, if they finish ahead of the Bulls, who are currently tied on two points with them, they could claim a ticket to the Round of 16 in the Challenge Cup.