European Cup Weekend previews

A look ahead to this weekend's action:

Today

POOL THREE: Cardiff v Stade Français, Arms Park (1.35pm) - Cardiff coach Dai Young has made four changes to a side that picked up a losing bonus point in Paris last weekend. Dai Flanagan replaces the injured Nicky Robinson at outhalf, while Tom Shanklin comes in for Jamie Robinson at outside centre.

Taufa'ao Filise starts at tighthead prop and Robin Sowden-Taylor is openside flanker. Stade make three changes, David Skrela replacing the injured Juan Martín Hernández, while Stéphane Glas and Boela Du Plooy start. Cardiff to win.

POOL ONE: Dragons v Benetton Treviso, Rodney Parade (2.30pm) - Rhys Thomas and Rhodri Gomer-Davies have been picked for the Dragons despite being arrested in Italy last week after a nightclub fracas. Coach Paul Turner has included Richard Fussell and Joe Bearman from the start, with Michael Owen moving to the second row.

Treviso make just two, injury-enforced, alterations, Michael Barbieri at prop and Benjamin de Jager on the wing. The Dragons got a fright last week but should win this.

POOL FOUR: Viadana v Saracens, Stadio Zaffanella (1.30pm) - Saracens coach Alan Gaffney has made five changes up front. Kevin Yates and Matt Cairns replace Nick Lloyd and Fabio Ongaro in the frontrow and Kris Chesney is in for Chris Jack, who is unavailable. Paul Gustard and Dave Seymour are promoted to the backrow.

Viadana make swingeing changes since last week but it should be another easy win for Saracens.

POOL TWO: Gloucester v Bourgoin, Kingsholm ( 3pm) - Lesley Vainikolo's return following a family bereavement is one of two changes to Dean Ryan's starting line-up. Iain Balshaw switches to fullback because of the shoulder injury to Olly Morgan and Luke Narraway comes in on the blindside flank for Alasdair Strokosch. The former Munster and Bourgoin scrumhalf Mike Prendergast hasn't made the Gloucester squad on what could be a long night for the French side.

POOL ONE: Perpignan v London Irish, Stade Aimé Giral (3.30pm) - World Cup-winning Springbok Percy Montgomery makes his debut for Perpignan having recovered from a knee injury. He will, however, leave the kicks to outhalf Cedric Rosalen, who forms a new halfback pairing with Scotland's Chris Cusiter.

London Irish have recalled two experienced internationals in All Black prop Clarke Dermody and Canuck Phil Murphy. The French feel they were victims of some poor calls last week and will have nursed that grievance. This game will tell much about the Exiles' character.

POOL FIVE: Wasps v Clermont Auvergne, Adams Park (5.30pm) - Josh Lewsey comes into the Wasps side at fullback to replace Mark van Gisbergen, while there are two further changes to the side that lost in France. Tom Rees returns to the back row in place of John Hart, and Nick Adams replaces Phil Vickery, cited after last week's game.

Clermont are without the injured Brock James and Anthony Floch, whose places go to Alex King and Seremaïa Bai. John Smit replaces Mario Ledesma at hooker and is joined by a new-look second row of Christophe Samson and Arnaud Jacquet. A must-win for Wasps.

Tomorrow

POOL THREE: Bristol v Harlequins, Memorial Stadium (3pm) - Harlequins' Irish wing Simon Keogh is restored to the backline in a team showing wholesale changes from that beaten at the Stoop last weekend. In the forwards, the former Leinster prop Ricky Nebbett makes his first start in the Heineken European Cup this season.

Bristol have the former Leinster players Brian O'Riordan and David Blaney on the bench.

POOL SIX: Toulouse v Leicester Tigers, Stade Ernest Wallon (3pm) - Geordan Murphy has recovered from injury and is named at fullback for this vital clash and he will be joined in the Tigers team by Frank Murphy, the scrumhalf recovering from a blow to the head he received at Welford Road last weekend. Lewis Moody and Ben Kay also return but All Black Aaron Mauger starts on the bench. Toulouse have gone with Jean-Baptiste Elissalde at scrumhalf in place of Byron Kelleher. Toulouse to prevail, maybe with a bonus point.