Treviso, Castres, Wasps, Perpignan: Treviso have the best Italian pedigree in the cup with 14 wins in nine years but last season drew a blank against Biarritz, Saracens and Ulster, and aren't setting their domestic league alight either.

Keen if never quite primed by domestic fare, prior to last season they lost six opening games at home in succession and need to break that run against a misfiring Perpignan.

The infighting Catalans ended a run of three successive defeats with a dreary win at Agen last weekend (the video would cure insomnia), a 6-5, win-loss record leaving them sixth in the Top 14. Castres are in even worse condition, a seventh defeat of the season at home to newly promoted Albi leaving them wondering aloud if they can recover mentally. By contrast, Lawrence Dallaglio and Wasps lie second in the Premiership and appear to be finding their old familiar rhythm.

Forecast: Wasps to progress, chased home by Perpignan.

FIXTURES Saturday: Treviso v Perpignan (2.00). Sunday: Wasps v Castres (1.00). Oct 27: Castres v Treviso (8.30). Oct 28: Perpignan v Wasps (4.30). Dec 9: Castres v Perpignan (4.30). Dec 10: Wasps v Treviso (3.00). Dec 15: Perpignan v Castres (8.30). Dec 16: Treviso v Wasps (2.00). Jan 12/13/14: Treviso v Castres, Wasps v Perpignan. Jan 19/20/21: Castres v Wasps, Perpignan v Treviso.