Cardiff Blues put their unbeaten cup record on the line against fellow high-flyers London Irish.
The Blues, who won the title in 2010, have won all five of their previous games in this tournament having already beaten Grenoble and Rovigo in this season’s competition.
However they face an Exiles side who are season-campaigners in the Challenge Cup, finalists in 2006, and have started this season’s campaign in even better form than the Blues.
Their 70-14 win over Rovigo is the biggest result in either European competition so far this year and was enough to keep them ahead of Cardiff, top of Pool 1.
Blues head coach Mark Hammett said: “We’ve made a good start in Europe and we’ve had a welcome eight-day break since the last league game to focus on this home match.
“We’ve been disappointed with aspects of our league form but Europe still holds real excitement for everyone at the club and we want to carry that on.
“But we will not under-estimate a London Irish side who also want to do well in this cup.”
The Exiles have lost their last five in the Premiership but Topsy Ojo is join-top try-scorer in the Challenge Cup this season, with three, and is sure to enjoy the fast playing surface provided by the artificial surface at the BT Sports Arms Park.
Myles Dorrian has already scored 25 points, the same as Blues fly-half Rhys Patchell who is ruled out of these back-to-back games with a hamstring injury. He has been replaced by new signing Gareth Anscombe.
Exiles’ Scotland prop Geoff Cross said: “We are working on a direct game to meet the physical game that I think Cardiff are going to bring. They are a big team with physical runners, especially in their back row. It is great to be involved in games when it is all up for grabs.”
